2025 is a vintage of extremes, and Cos d’Estournel felt it firsthand with their earliest harvest since 1989. It’s also a vintage of extremes in the glass: an exceptionally well‑built, character‑driven 2025 that will be remembered among the estate’s greats. These days, Cos performs a brilliant balancing act, delivering a wine that’s bright, fresh, and almost lifted, yet layered with underlying concentration. It is as graceful as it is powerful. A vibrant line of acidity keeps the wine lively, while the core shows deeper red‑to‑black fruit and tobacco wrapped in firm structure. Among the 2025s, this is one I expect will reward a bit more patience than some of its peers, but everything is present in volume, and it feels poised to resolve into a signature release for the estate.

Beautifully balanced and classically styled, the 2025 Cos is a compelling expression of St-Estèphe. Ripe dark red fruit, with deep cherry, raspberry, and red currant are layered with savory notes of forest mushroom, undergrowth, exotic spice, and a touch of tobacco. Despite the warmth of the vintage, the wine retains remarkable energy and precision, finishing at a modest 13.3% alcohol, lower than many similarly solar years. Polished tannins and integrated structure give the wine immediate appeal while preserving its capacity to age gracefully. While it may be approachable earlier than expected, the 2025 remains unmistakably Cos: refined, composed, and built to reward patience for years to come.

Cos d'Estournel's continual journal towards lifted beauty continues in the 2025 vintage. This is a wine that can only be described as fabulously fruited and undeniably pretty. The power of the site is unmissable, but is kept in check with a modest 13.3% alcohol and irresistible freshness. Concentrated, focused, delicious! What more could you ask for?