Magnum - Château Cos d'Estournel

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe12/1/2002

Extraordinaire d'intensité et étonnamment accessible, le Cos d'Estournel 1995 est plus sensuel et plus plaisant que son cadet d'un an, plus musclé et moins évolué. Opulent, doté d'arômes bien mûrs de fruits noirs mêlés de notes d'épices et de pain grillé, il est très corsé, avec un généreux fruité joliment rehaussé de belles notes de boisé. Séduisant dès sa jeunesse, du fait de sa faible acidité et de ses tannins doux, il promet de tenir 2 décennies. A boire jusqu'en 2025.

Wine Advocate

93 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe9/1/1998

This wine has put on significant weight and fat, in addition to developing a degree of opulence that I would not have thought possible. It reveals an opaque purple color, a seamless, sweet, rich, full-bodied, stunningly seductive, profound flavor profile, and a finish that lasts for 30+ seconds. The inner-core of richness, outstanding purity, and gorgeously-layered palate are impressive. Moreover, the wine's acidity, alcohol, and tannin are remarkably well-integrated. This should result in one of the vintage's finest wines. Last tasted 1/97

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/28/1998

A wine of extraordinary intensity and accessibility, the 1995 Cos d'Estournel is a sexier, more hedonistic offering than the muscular, backward 1996. Opulent, with forward aromatics (gobs of black fruits intermixed with toasty pain grille scents and a boatload of spice), this terrific Cos possesses remarkable intensity, full body, and layers of jammy fruit nicely framed by the wine's new oak. Because of low acidity and sweet tannin, the 1995 will be difficult to resist young, although it will age for 2-3 decades. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2025. Both the 1995 and 1996 vintages of Cos d'Estournel were even more impressive in late 1997 than earlier in the spring.

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/28/1997

A word of admiration and praise is in order for Bruno Prats. One of St.-Estephe's most forward thinking producers, Prats is never content with merely making outstanding wine. Over the last few years he has improved Cos d'Estournel, already one of the great wines of Bordeaux, by eliminating any filtration at bottling, and replacing the standard paper label with one made of plastic so it will not disintegrate in damp, humid cellars. Additionally, the quality of his wines in such difficult vintages as 1992 and 1993 has been remarkable. Readers should also note that a second wine, the beautifully packaged Les Pagodes de Cos, has been implemented with the 1994 vintage. It appears to be a fine second wine. This wine has put on significant weight and fat, in addition to developing a degree of opulence that I would not have thought possible. It reveals an opaque purple color, a seamless, sweet, rich, full-bodied, stunningly seductive, profound flavor profile, and a finish that lasts for 30+ seconds. The inner-core of richness, outstanding purity, and gorgeously-layered palate are impressive. Moreover, the wine's acidity, alcohol, and tannin are remarkably well-integrated. This should result in one of the vintage's finest wines. Cos d'Estournel is clearly producing wines that are often of first-growth potential.

Wine Advocate

90-92 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/1996

The 1994 and 1995 vintages of Cos d'Estournel are slightly different in style, but are virtually equivalent in qualitative terms. Not surprisingly, the 1995 is less advanced aromatically, and is more tannic, with a harder edge than the 1994. In contrast, most of the 1994 Medocs have a harder edge when compared to the sweeter, jammier 1995s. The wine exhibits low acidity, impressive color saturation, good ripeness, and medium to full body, but it is backward and closed. It is a classically-structured, surprisingly tannic and unevolved example of Cos that may lean more toward the 1986 in style (but not as powerful as that effort) than the 1985. I suspect this wine will need 5-8 years of cellaring and will keep for more than two decades. Several of proprietor Bruno Prats' comments regarding the 1995s are worth repeating. He claimed, with considerable justification, that he thought his 1995 possessed the fruit of the 1985 vintage and the structure and tannin of the 1986. Cos d'Estournel is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, and, to the credit of Bruno Prats, has been bottled unfiltered beginning with the 1993 vintage.

Wine Spectator

93 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe1/31/1993

Spice rack of a wine, rather exotic. Concentrated aromas of tar, spices and currants. Full-bodied, with loads of velvety tannins and a long, ripe fruit aftertaste. Best after 2002.