2008 Cos d`Estournel (St-Estephe)

Origin
St-Estephe, Medoc, Bordeaux FRANCE
Colour
red
Wine Style
dry
Dominant Grape
Cabernet Sauvignon
Closure Style
cork
Maturity
drink or keep
Bottle Size
75cl
Case Quantity
12
Alcohol
13.5%
Wine Score
94-96+, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, April 2009
95 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robertparker.com, November 2018
91-94 points, James Suckling, winespectator.com 18.5 points, Steven Spurrier, decanter.com
94-96 points, Neal Martin, erobertparker.com

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2008 Cos d`Estournel (St-Estephe)

Media Reviews

Robert Parker

The 2008 Cos d`Estournel possesses an atypically high (85%) amount of Cabernet Sauvignon, with 13% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. The first vintage vinified in the new facility, an unusually high percentage of the crop (78%) was included in the grand vin. The bad news is that yields were a minuscule 25 hectoliters per hectare. This wine achieved 13.8% natural alcohol, and the number of days between the flowering and harvest was 160, compared to the normal 100-110 (one of the keys to understanding the exceptionally high quality that characterizes the 2008 Bordeaux). There were no serious heat waves during the growing season, which meant that the maturation process was slow, long, and ideal. Combine that with the very low yields, and the superb weather from mid-September to late-October, and the often splendid results are much easier to comprehend. The inky/purple-hued 2008 Cos is still very young, and probably will improve even further as the wine came out of malolactic fermentation very late. It reveals exceptionally precise, fresh aromas of black fruits, crushed rocks, licorice, flowers, and subtle smoke. Dense and high in tannin, the extraordinary richness of polyphenols has given the wine power, substance, and depth, but the sweetness of the tannin and the seemingly low acidity, even though the wine tastes remarkably fresh and the pH is only 3.57 (compared to pH`s close to 4 when the fruit is this ripe), has given the wine a precision and elegance that is remarkable. And don`t forget, this is probably the highest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon ever used in a Cos d`Estournel blend. This wine should gain weight, richness, and a few Parker points by the time it is bottled. It is even denser and richer than the 1996, with an index of polyphenols at 80, which is not unusual for many of the top wines of the vintage, but is extremely high, and more along the lines of what one would find in the top wines of 2005. It should evolve for 30-35 years. 94-96+

Lisa Perrotti-Brown

The medium to deep garnet colored 2008 Cos d`Estournel is blended of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Pow! The nose explodes with notes of baked cherries, preserved plums, fried herbs, beef drippings and warm cassis with wafts of wood smoke, salami and tobacco leaf. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegant and earthy/savory in character, sporting beautifully ripe, grainy tannins and bags of freshness, finishing on a lingering mineral note. 95 points