Cos d'Estournel - Saint-Estèphe 2009

Wine Advocate

91 / 100

par Neal Martin le 01/01/2013

Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. There is a lot of fruit intensity on the nose with layers of blackberry, raspberry, candied orange peel and dark plum all vying for attention. It is glossy, dare I say almost “slutty”. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins on the entry. There is good weight and volume to this wine, the Merlot more expressive than elsewhere with a lovely rich, decadent, weighty finish that is a hedonistic treat, but chooses not to translate the terroir of this great property. I prefer the 2010! Tasted January 2013.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

92 / 100

par Stephen Tanzer le 31/07/2012

Saturated dark ruby. Exotic, port-like aromas of blackberry liqueur, mocha and grilled meat. Fat, lush, saline and sweet, conveying an impression of extreme port-like ripeness. Huge, mouth-saturating flavors of dark berries and chocolate. Not heavy but doesn't exactly dance on the palate. Does this need years to shed some of its baby fat or will it always be a bit monolithic? Finishes with a boatload of ripe, broad tannins and palate-staining fruit. In a distinctly extreme style, and yet this maintained its sweetness of fruit for days in the recorked bottle. This is bound to be one of the most controversial wines of the vintage. I look forward to checking back in on it in 10 or 15 years. 92(+?) points

Wine Advocate

100 / 100

par Robert Parker le 29/02/2012

One of the greatest young wines I have ever tasted, the monumental 2009 Cos d’Estournel has lived up to its pre-bottling potential. A remarkable effort from winemaking guru Jean-Guillaume Prats and owner Michel Reybier, this blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot (33%) and a touch of Cabernet Franc (2%) was cropped at 33 hectoliters per hectare. It boasts an inky/black/purple color along with an extraordinary bouquet of white flowers interwoven with blackberry and blueberry liqueur, incense, charcoal and graphite. The wine hits the palate with extraordinary purity, balance and intensity as well as perfect equilibrium, and a seamless integration of tannin, acidity, wood and alcohol. An iconic wine as well as a remarkable achievement, it is the greatest Cos d’Estournel ever produced. It is approachable enough at present that one could appreciate it with several hours of decanting, but it will not hit its prime for a decade, and should age effortlessly for a half century.

Jamessuckling.com

100 / 100

par James Suckling le 15/02/2012

What a fabulous nose of currants, raspberries and Indian spices. Nutmeg and clover. Full-bodied, with an amazing precision and superb compacted fruit. Endless. Laser guided. Shows such intensity. Decadent and rich and changing all the time. Mystical wine. Dense, yet agile. More refined than when I tasted it in November in Hong Kong. Try in 2018.

Wine Spectator

97 / 100

par James Molesworth le 11/01/2012

This is a stunner, with gloriously ripe, succulent cassis, blackberry and fig fruit flavours backed by extra notes of plum cake, blueberry confiture and roasted wood spice. On the back half, the iron spine takes over the hard-driving and extremely long anise-and incence-tinged finish. An awesome expression of the modern style. Best from 2020 through 2040.-J.M.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

88-90 / 100

par Ian D'Agata le 30/06/2010

(a blend of 65% cabernet sauvignon, 33% merlot, and 2% cabernet franc; 80% new oak; 33 hectoliters per hectare; 14.5% alcohol; IPT 99; 56% selection for the grand vin Inky purple. Extremely ripe aromas of red fruits macerated in alcohol, espresso and dark chocolate (almost Banyuls- or port-like), with a more refreshing floral element emerging with aeration. Enters the mouth smooth, sweet and floral, with a velvety texture, but then turns slightly hollow in the mid-palate, hinting at overripe red cherry and dark plum flavors. Finishes dry and a touch astringent (heat-stressed merlot?). By no means a bad wine, but this version of Cos has more in common with a late-harvested negroamaro from southern Italy or an overripe fruit bomb from Napa than a fine Medoc wine. As much as I liked the 2008, I find this wine overdone, and I don't believe it will improve much with time. (88-90?)

Le Figaro

96-100 / 100

par Bernard Burtschy le 30/06/2010

Spectaculaire et d’une rare efficacité sont les nouveaux équipements installés dans le célèbre chai du château. Jean-Guillaume Prats a donc pu extraire la quintessence de son magnifique raisin, ce qui donne un vin d’une phénoménale concentration qui séduit les dégustateurs impressionnés par la puissance. Le vin n’a aucun équivalent dans le passé et il est difficile d’imaginer son futur même si le terroir en a vu d’autres : il a toujours engendré de très grands vins, même quand la matière était très faible. Il en sera sûrement de même maintenant que la matière impressionne par sa densité. Un beau cas d’école avec ce vin au nez de mûre, très fin, finement épicé. En bouche, l’attaque est particulièrement dense avec une très belle matière, un léger flottement, de belles épices et une finale de réglisse un peu mâchée. Du charme et surtout une incroyable densité. 65 % cabernet-sauvignon, 33 % merlot, 2 % cabernet-franc. 80 % de fût neuf, IPT 99.

timatkin.com

95 / 100

par Tim Atkin MW le 30/06/2010

14.5% alcohol. 65 CS, 33M, 2CF The 2009 is a controversial wine, an all out attempt to produce a claret that bludgeons the taster into submission. There’s no denying the quality of the fruit – or the investment that has been made in the vineyard and cellar here – but this seems OTT to me, closer to a Shiraz than a red Bordeaux in style and flavour. A massive, super-charged number that will divide opinions. 15+ years.

La Revue du Vin de France

18-19 / 20

le 31/05/2010

Totalement à part, ce 2009 est le plus puissant, le plus riche et le plus massif de l'histoire de Cos d'Estournel. Un monstre de concentration qui atteint les 14,5° d'alcool et exhale des arômes évoquant un châteauneuf-du-pape, avec des notes de fruits noirs ultra concentrés. Tous les curseurs ont été poussés au maximum et le vin affiche une densité de matière et surtout une puissance tannique hors normes. C'est incontestablement le vin le plus exotique et le plus massif produit cette année dans le Médoc. Il faudra l'oublier en cave de longues années, mais il sera passionnant de le voir évoluer.

Le Point

16 / 20

par Jacques Dupont le 06/05/2010

Nez de porto vintage, fruits noirs en confiture, bouche puissante, tanins gras en milieu de bouche, sucrosité des tanins, puissant, long, dense, tannique, très riche, très solaire, un style assez éloigné de ce que l'on connaît des vins de Bordeaux. Avec le temps... O=2016 G=25 ans

Wein Wisser

20 / 20

par René Gabriel le 30/04/2010

65 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 33 % Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc. 65 % der Ernte wurden als Grand Vin selektioniert, der Ertrag beträgt nur 33 hl/ha. Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violett-schwarzen Reflexen. Kompaktes Bouquet, schwarze Fruchtnoten, schwarze Kirschen, Brombeeren, schwarze Edelhölzer, schwarze Olivenpaste, Guinness- Malztöne, eingedickter Birnensaft, Pumpernickelbrot, Lakritze, Vanillemark, getrocknete Malagatrauben… – Irgendwie erinnert uns das warme bis heisse Bouquet an einen Amarone. Wenn man aber von der Fülle und Schwere des Nasenbildes auf einen überladenen Wein am Gaumen schliesst, liegt man tendenziell falsch. Die gewaltige Konzentration meistert der erhabene 09er Cos königlich und zelebriert eine royale Finesse bis zum komplexen Finale, das schwarzes Kirschenkompott, arabischen Mokka sowie einen schwarzschokobitteren, noblen Malzton auffährt. Dieser Cos ist eine Art überfetter 1982er! Oder wie ein Blend aus einem Viertel Cos, einem Viertel Quintarelli Amarone, einem Viertel Ridge Monte Bello 2003 und einem Viertel von einem jungen grossen Vintage Port. Ein sehr kontroverser, aber zweifellos genialer Wein! 2016–2035

TAST

16 / 20

par Bettane & Desseauve le 30/04/2010

Cet immense vin est le seul qui pose à notre équipe une difficulté majeure de notation. Nous sommes ici en effet en terrain inconnu en raison de la forme particulière que ce millésime hors norme a donné au cru. Son degré alcoolique insolite, le côté flamboyant de ses arômes (Jean-Guillaume Prats les qualifie de « baroques ») le met complètement à part des autres. Mais sa perfection d’élaboration ne fait aucun doute. Il est donc facile de l’écarter comme incongru en Médoc, ce que nous ne ferons pas, connaissant la force du terroir qui s’impose toujours au vieillissement quels que soient les choix du vinificateur. Mais on a du mal à voir dans quelle direction le terroir s’exprimera dans trente ans. Pagodes de Cos, « l’autre » vin du château, qui a bénéficié de l’apport de somptueux cabernets-sauvignons, à l’inverse de la tendance du millésime, apparaît davantage ancré dans le terroir et peut-être plus satisfaisant intellectuellement malgré un tanin un peu plus rugueux. Entre 16 et 19/20 selon l’humeur du jour.

Wine Advocate

89-91 / 100

par Neal Martin le 30/04/2010

Tasted twice on separate occasions at the property. Stylistically, the Cos d’Estournel sets itself apart from the entire Left Bank, though I am uncertain whether this is a positive thing. Coming in with an IPT of 99 and tangible 14.5% alcohol, it is endowed with an extremely rich, decadent nose with macerated black cherries, cassis, a touch of crème de menthe, melted chocolate and a hint of fig. This is an extremely powerful nose that bears more relationship with the Douro than the Gironde. It is endowed with Leviathan tannins that form a massive, arching structure, moderate acidity, the power seeming to dominate the finish at the expense of a little finesse. This is a Cos d’Estournel that wants to make a bold impression. Leaving it for 15-20 minutes there is a change in the glass, becoming rounder and more harmonized, certainly some of the heat dissipating and yet one has to question whether stylistically, it has forsaken its identity as quintessential Saint Estephe? Another sample with one hour decanting with a little smoother and yet still showed a little hardness and alcohol on the finish. Tasted March 2010.

Decanter Magazine

18,5 / 20

par Steven Spurrier le 30/04/2010

Superb black red, very full and spicy, very broadly structured, really quite massive (14.5abv) and will take years to pick up finesse, a 'baroque' almost Porty wine, explosively rich and definitely impressive if not a typical Saint-Estèphe. Drink 2018-40.

Wine Enthusiast

94-96 / 100

par Roger Voss le 30/04/2010

A hugely rich wine, where the tannins seem initially lost in the overwhelming fruit. It has power and concentration, showing its alcohol a little. There is great intensity, but a taste like super-ripe Zinfandel, from the very ripe fruit.

Falstaff

98-100 / 100

par Peter Moser le 30/04/2010

Nougat, dunkle, konzentrierte Beerenfrucht, zart nach Dörrzwetschken, Orangenzesten, tabakige Würze. Kraftvoll, zarte Bitterschokolade, stramme Tannine, extraktsüßer Kern, süßer Nachhall, bleibt sehr lange haften, Dörrobst, Schokofinish.

Periodic Review of Wine

95-97 / 100

par Alan Duran le 28/04/2010

This is a profound St. Estèphe that is well-endowed with concentrated fruit. It may reach the status of the extraordinary 2003 vintage. The full-bodied, deeply-rimmed, saturated inky-purple colored 2009 offers a striking perfume of seared bloody meats, blueberry liqueur, cassis, spilled-ink, and caramelized elements. This is potent in concentrated fruit, broad-shouldered and lengthy, yet still rather youthful in its evoltion, which could foretell an even better Cos d'Estournel. Maturity period 2015-2036+

Wine Advocate

98-100 / 100

par Robert Parker le 28/04/2010

The 2009 Cos d’Estournel is one of the greatest young wines I have ever tasted ... in the world! An extraordinary effort I tasted on two separate occasions, this blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest primarily Merlot with a dollop of Cabernet Franc has a whopping 14.5% alcohol, but a remarkably normal pH of 3.69. Kudos to Jean- Guillaume Prats and owner Michel Reybier for this amazing wine made from yields of 33 hectoliters per hectare. It will be a legendary claret that should last for 50-60 years. A black/purple color is accompanied by aromas of graphite, ink, creme de cassis, blackberries, cedar, and incense. Full-bodied and unctuously textured, with an ethereal personality, tons of nuances, and a burgeoning complexity, it is an enormously wellendowed, fresh, perfectly balanced tour de force in winemaking. As mentioned above, it should drink well for 50-60 years. This wine possesses this vintage’s classic characteristics of enormous power, massive fruit, and extraordinary freshness and precision - largely unprecedented, particularly for Cabernet-based wines in the Medoc. (Tasted two times.) Drink 2010-2070. (98-100*) points

Anthony Rose

92-94 / 100

par Anthony Rose le 26/04/2010

56% of the total production of the château in 2009 with 80% new oak, this is a blend of 65% cabernet sauvignon, 33% merlot, 2% cabernet franc. Very dense and inky, almost opaque in colour, rich and savoury, a tad baked and almost tarry, at the same time on the nose, jammy and savoury; the fruit is intense, concentrated, dark, powerful, with dark chocolate and black fruits sweetness , a twist of astringency, and very firm backbone with lots of oak and sweet fleshed fruit, massive and very tannic. Hard to call, but at this stage feels almost too masochistically chunky for its own good. Impressive without question but will it come round? Maybe they’ll bring a softening element to it before the final bottling in which case it should. Maybe they won’t. Does it matter? The Americans are sure to love it. 92-94?

Wine Spectator

97-100 / 100

par James Suckling le 09/04/2010

This smells like Harlan a bit. Supercharged in fruit, with intense aromas of tar, spice, cardamon, clove, blackberry and black pepper. Crazy nose. Full-bodied, with masses of fruit, yet focused and in form. Chewy tannins, with great length. This goes on and on. Incredibly exotic. Could be best ever from here?

Jancis Robinson

16,5 / 20

par Jancis Robinson le 07/04/2010

IPT (total polyphenol index) 99 is volunteered, along with 14.5%, TA 3.1 g/l (sulphuric, ie 4.75 tartaric), pH 3.69. 56% of the crop went into Cos. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 80% new barrels. Prats: ‘A bit like 2003, average yield 33 hl/ha. We had to reject all the [most stressed] south-facing parcels where the vines shut down. It’s a very atypical, baroque Cos.’ Very dark indeed. Blackish crimson. Not much scent though obviously very ripe. Firmer than some of the more obvious Napa Valley-style wines in 2009 with the tannins much more obvious. But a coolness on the finish. This may come round eventually. It is much more demanding than most 2009s and will need SO long. A very exaggerated wine with a bit of a hole in the middle. A definite lack of freshness. Does remind me a little bit of Pavie 2003. To be generous I’m assuming that in the far distant future it may resolve itself but I can’t quite understand why they let the grapes get so ripe. Harvest dates are pretty similar to Ch Latour but the results are very different. 14.5% (16.5+) Drink 2024-2040