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Château Cos d'Estournel Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2005
...it is unquestionably another superb classic... It boasts an inky/purple color as well as a glorious perfume of licorice, Asian spices, creme de cassis, blackberries, and toasty oak. This full-bodied St.-Estephe is exceptionally powerful, pure, and dense with a layered mid-palate that builds like a skyscraper. While there are massive tannins, they are remarkably velvety and well-integrated in this big, backstrapping effort that should enjoy an unusually long life... Robert Parker
Ratings on Delectable
Cathy Corison 
Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery
Happy New Year with tasting group. Solid. Nice development. Still on the tight side.
Happy New Year with tasting group. Solid. Nice development. Still on the tight side.
9.2
Loren Grossman
Vintner Wilde Farm Wines
Powerful and complete. Black fruit, licorice, smoke and lots of structure. Excellent balance and integration. A pleasure with a tomahawk rib eye, or wait another 10-15 years.
Powerful and complete. Black fruit, licorice, smoke and lots of structure. Excellent balance and integration. A pleasure with a tomahawk rib eye, or wait another 10-15 years.
9.4
Lee Pitofsky
From the superb 2005 vintage. Deep, powerful, masculine and layered, clearly still in its youth but wow this will be phenomenal. Already showing nicely with rich blackberries, cassis, newly bloomed violets, mocha, leather and hints of tea leaves. Finishes long and intense with plenty of grip.
From the superb 2005 vintage. Deep, powerful, masculine and layered, clearly still in its youth but wow this will be phenomenal. Already showing nicely with rich blackberries, cassis, newly bloomed violets, mocha, leather and hints of tea leaves. Finishes long and intense with plenty of grip.
9.5
Daron Watson
Wow ~ of all the vintages in the flight this one did it for me! Sumptuous nose as well but far from subtle. Flavors run deep starting red but quickly turning black. Strong structure of the vintage still there but finally shedding a few layers of tannins revealing walls of mocha and truffle. D!G
Wow ~ of all the vintages in the flight this one did it for me! Sumptuous nose as well but far from subtle. Flavors run deep starting red but quickly turning black. Strong structure of the vintage still there but finally shedding a few layers of tannins revealing walls of mocha and truffle. D!G
9.9
James Forsyth
A stunning wine. Really beautiful. Dark and intense. Drinks incredibly well now and has been for a while. I’ve had this a few times and consistently excellent. A beauty.
A stunning wine. Really beautiful. Dark and intense. Drinks incredibly well now and has been for a while. I’ve had this a few times and consistently excellent. A beauty.
9.7
Conrad Green
This is young but wonderfully seductive. Dense and lush with deep red fruit and some spice. On the palate, wood still present but the fruit is deep and sexy and succulent. In years ahead this’ll be amazing but it has huge promise.
This is young but wonderfully seductive. Dense and lush with deep red fruit and some spice. On the palate, wood still present but the fruit is deep and sexy and succulent. In years ahead this’ll be amazing but it has huge promise.
9.4
Chris McClellan
Had 200 vintage not long ago, great cherry and slight blackcherry, great acid and well balanced tannin and oak. Just love the purity of the fruit..my WOTN. 78% cab , 19% merlot..
Had 200 vintage not long ago, great cherry and slight blackcherry, great acid and well balanced tannin and oak. Just love the purity of the fruit..my WOTN. 78% cab , 19% merlot..
9.2
David L
Decanting is a must. Great bottle.
Decanting is a must. Great bottle.
9.4Conrad Green
This is lush and exotic. An expansive nose with black cherry, mocha, dark currant. Dense on the palate with lovely fruit but tightly coiled. Quite thick at the end. With time this should be spectacular.
This is lush and exotic. An expansive nose with black cherry, mocha, dark currant. Dense on the palate with lovely fruit but tightly coiled. Quite thick at the end. With time this should be spectacular.
9.3
Jeff Hasmann
For the fifth and sixth wines of the week, it’s time to raid the cellar. Drinking the ‘05 Cos d’Estournel next to the ‘05 Montrose. For me, aged Cos d’Estournel is the ultimate expression of Bordeaux. Big, tannic, and layered - a wine you don’t think about touching for 15 years. Perhaps because it was my first introduction to fine wine way back in the early ‘90s, Cos has always held a special place for me and, my oh my, the ‘05 does not disappoint. At 78 Cab / 19 Merlot, the wine has the highest proportion of Cabernet in recent memory and is just now entering its ideal drinking window. Deep ruby in color with a bit of bricking, the bouquet opens after a bit of air. Ripe black currants, plum, tobacco leaf, cedar box, and leather on the nose. Also noticeable are prominent hints of incense, a characteristic that is unique to Cos in the best vintages. The entry on the palate is rich and layered evolving with each sip. Layers of ripe black fruit, black tea, graphite, chocolate-covered cherries, and graphite are evident. The tannins are strong but smooth, and hold the layers together in beautiful harmony.. The finish is long and pervasive with strong notes of cassis lingering. Honestly, St Estephe doesn’t get any better than this. A wine to savor over many hours. It has a long life ahead and will improve further with proper cellaring. 2005 vintage on April 20, 2020
For the fifth and sixth wines of the week, it’s time to raid the cellar. Drinking the ‘05 Cos d’Estournel next to the ‘05 Montrose. For me, aged Cos d’Estournel is the ultimate expression of Bordeaux. Big, tannic, and layered - a wine you don’t think about touching for 15 years. Perhaps because it was my first introduction to fine wine way back in the early ‘90s, Cos has always held a special place for me and, my oh my, the ‘05 does not disappoint. At 78 Cab / 19 Merlot, the wine has the highest proportion of Cabernet in recent memory and is just now entering its ideal drinking window. Deep ruby in color with a bit of bricking, the bouquet opens after a bit of air. Ripe black currants, plum, tobacco leaf, cedar box, and leather on the nose. Also noticeable are prominent hints of incense, a characteristic that is unique to Cos in the best vintages. The entry on the palate is rich and layered evolving with each sip. Layers of ripe black fruit, black tea, graphite, chocolate-covered cherries, and graphite are evident. The tannins are strong but smooth, and hold the layers together in beautiful harmony.. The finish is long and pervasive with strong notes of cassis lingering. Honestly, St Estephe doesn’t get any better than this. A wine to savor over many hours. It has a long life ahead and will improve further with proper cellaring. 2005 vintage on April 20, 2020
9.7
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