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Just like a novel writer can be the same and yet different through his works, a Grand Cru can express the same style through its different vintages.
In the eyes of great wine lovers, Cos d'Estournel has become the archetype of a certain style of virile elegance in which power does not exclude either grace or mildness.
Impressive in its youth by the intensity of its structure and the strength of its fruit, the wine of Cos evolves slowly to reach a wonderful melting quality and an aromatic complexity when it comes to complete maturity (between 10 to 30 years).
Great vintages of Cos d'Estournel can have an exceptionally long life, sometimes exceeding a hundred years. Today, we can still drink some 1870 Cos d'Estournel bottles and find them admirable!
In the old Gascon language, the word 'Cos' means 'The Hill of Pebbles'. And as a matter of fact, the hill of Cos, which is situated on the banks of the Gironde, is an impressive accumulation of Quaternary gravel wrested from the distant mountains of the Massif Central and the Pyrenees and laid on Saint-Estèphe's limestone bed when the primeval river receded.
Shaped into well drained slopes by the erosion, these exceptionally deep layers of gravel are a true geological curiosity and also one of the world's most precious Terroir, for it forces the old vines planted on its heights to thrust their roots into the arid soil. These are these extended roots that slow down the flow of sap, concentrating then the juice and giving the wine of Cos such an individual taste.
Between Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe, separated from Château Lafite by the stream known as La Jalle du Breuil (The Breuil Brook), the hill of Cos dominates the Gironde from the height of almost 65 feet.
Bordered westward by the Atlantic ocean and eastward by the Gironde, the vineyard of Cos d'Estournel benefits from a micro-climate. The micro-climate acts like a temperature regulator, thus avoiding extreme temperatures.
The Cabernet Sauvignon vines (60% of the vineyard) find the soil of their choice in the thin layers of gravelly soil situated on the top and on the southern slopes of the hill.
On the other hand, the Merlot vines (40% of the vineyard) excel on the eastern slopes and on the slopes where the Saint-Estephe limestone bed shows on the surface.
Plantation is extremely dense (8000 to 10000 vines per hectare) and the average age of the vineyard is high (35 years old on the average) in order to enable the roots to extend excessively and to obtain a very slender yield per vine that will create the "Grand Goût".
Only the wines made from the vines over twenty years of age will bare the name of Château Cos d'Estournel
Each vine grower is in charge of 45 000 vines on which they have got to undertake various labours every year. These cultural tasks are for most of them done manually.
The harvest is of course manually picked too. And it is by hand that the grapes, once collected in special wooden baskets, will be strictly selected.
Cos d'Estournel is owned by Domaines Reybier and headed by the visionary Jean-Guillaume Prats (pictured below).
  
Facts & Figures
Area under vine
70 hectares
Production
200,000 to 380,000 bottles (pending on vintage)
Soil
In the old Gascon language, the word 'Cos' means 'The Hill of Pebbles'. And as a matter of fact, the hill of Cos, which is situated on the banks of the Gironde, is an impressive accumulation of Quaternary gravel wrested from the distant mountains of the Massif Central and the Pyrenees and laid on Saint-Estèphe's limestone bed when the primeval river receded.
Shaped into well drained slopes by the erosion, these exceptionally deep layers of gravel are a true geological curiosity and also one of the world's most precious Terroir, for it forces the old vines planted on its heights to thrust their roots into the arid soil.
Grape varieties
58% Cabernet Sauvignon
38% Merlot
3% Cabernet Franc
1% Petit Verdot
Ageing
In 80% new barrels
Second wine
Les Pagodes de Cos, Saint-Estèphe
  
Wines available
All wines sold by BDXV come direct from Bordeaux and have been stored at the Chateaux or in professional storage facilities since the time of bottling. BDXV’s wines have never ever been in the hands of private collectors. This gives you the customer the highest level of quality guarantee that the wines you buy have been stored in optimal conditions since the time they were bottled.
Chateau Cos d'Estournel 2005, EUR POA*
Score: 98 points. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2040.
Robert Parker: 98 points
April 2008: While I am not convinced the 2005 Cos d’Estournel will eclipse the compelling 2003 Cos, it is unquestionably another superb classic from proprietor Michel Reybier and his brilliant winemaker, Jean-Guillaume Prats. Made from an unusually high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (78%) and the balance mostly Merlot with a tiny dollop of Cabernet Franc, this superb effort requires plenty of time in the bottle. 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. Forget it for 8-10 years, and drink it between 2017-2040.
April 2007: A classic in the making, the 2005 Cos has become even more backward and structured, making it one of the most inaccessible examples of this wine made in the last twenty years. There is an unusually high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (78%) blended with 19% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. The wine boasts a dense purple color along with a gorgeous bouquet of creme de cassis intermixed with licorice, pain grille, spice, and cedar. Medium to full-bodied, powerful, rich, and dense, with a sweet middle as well as huge tannins in the finish, it will be approachable in 8-10 years.
April 2006: The 2005 Cos d’Estournel is made from an unusual blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. The Merlot was picked during the last nine days of September, and the Cabernets were finished by the 9th of October. The 2005's 13.85% alcohol is the highest this estate has ever achieved. The implementation of such Burgundian winemaking techniques as malolactic in barrel and aging on its lees are resulting in wines of extraordinary texture as well as elegance. The 2003 may be more opulent, and for my taste a more compelling wine, but the 2005 is at the same level. Made from yields of 40 hectoliters per hectare, it exhibits an inky/purple color as well as a gorgeous nose of sweet red and black fruits, camphor, cedar, and pain grille. Extraordinarily well-defined, nuanced, and powerful, with high tannin as well as magnificent texture and richness, this classic offering will be uncommonly long-lived. It will not be close to drinkability for another 5-7 years, and should last for 30 or more. A fabulous wine!
Jancis Robinson: 18 points
Wonderfully intense, healthy purplish crimson. Restrained nose – rather cool impression despite the record alcohols that rose to 15 per cent for some Merlots. The finished wine is just below 14 per cent. Quite chewy and inky. There is obviously a lot of ripeness buried in here but that’s what it is for the moment – buried. A sure bet but it’s a monster for the moment. Very dry and Médoc and chewy. They have gone for max this year, and that means you will have to wait for max time for it to be ready. Less of a wine, more of a statement of intent. Jean-Guillaume Prats was perhaps aware that the first sample did not show perfectly so produced a second which was slightly more expressive.
Chateau Cos d'Estournel 2003, EUR POA*
Score: 98 points. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2036.
Robert Parker: 98 points
The prodigious, fantastic 2003 Cos d’Estournel is a candidate for “wine of the vintage.” A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon (unusually high for this chateau), 30% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, 17,500 cases were produced from low yields. An inky/blue/purple color is accompanied by a compelling perfume of black fruits, subtle smoke, pain grille, incense, and flowers. With extraordinary richness, full body, and remarkable freshness, elegance, and persistence, this is one of the finest wines ever made by this estate. The good news is that it will be drinkable at a young age yet evolve for three decades or more. Kudos to winemaker Jean-Guillaume Prats and owner Michel Reybier.
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