2014 Cos d'Estournel, St-Estèphe & Cos d'Estournel, St-Estèphe (1.5L) Horizontal

“If you want to know what St.-Estèphe smells like, this is it. Aromas of spices, black truffles, forest floor, dried strawberries and tar. It’s full-bodied yet pinpointed on the palate with fabulous density and richness. It’s opulent but in a reserved and checked way. This needs at least five or six years to come around, but it’s already fantastic. What harmony and structure.” (02/2017)

“This is an immensely dense wine that is going to be a classic. The dark tannins are still lined with wood aging but that will go because the fruit underneath is also just as dense and intense. Blackberry, black plum and damson plum give power and sweetness. This is a great wine with huge potential. *Cellar Selection* (RV)” (02/2017)

“Aymeric de Gironde was still director at the time (leaving in 2017 to head over the river to Troplong Mondot) with Dominique Arangoïts as technical director (he remains there today). Together they produced a wine of great restraint in 2014, showing fine touches of cassis and black spice from the first moment, exotic and enticing, with dark chocolate, charcoal and slate hints. It's extremely present without being overpowering, with smooth, elongated tannins. This is a classy wine that's built to last, caressing and cajoling its way through the palate, and it absolutely lives up to its promise at en primeur. Contemporary oaking, but with finesse and restraint. (JA)” (05/2018)

“Selecting the right moment for opening these serious wines is never easy, and the 2014 vintage will continue to soften and open over the next few decades, but the opulent black fruits in this vintage are already filling out the tannic frame. In just the 12 months since I last tasted this wine, the inky confidence and gourmet edging is increasingly irresistable. Cigar box, graphite, cloves and crushed rocks abound, with pomegranate and blueberry fruit. Beautiful, in a great vintage for this appellaiton. Michel Reybier owner, Aymeric de Gironde director at the time.” (09/2023)

“The grand vin 2014 Cos D’Estournel is gorgeous, and I think a step up over the 2015. A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, this deep, inky-colored 2014 boasts a gorgeous perfume of ripe currants and cassis fruits, loads of chocolaty oak, cedar and scorched earth, full-bodied richness, and building, firm, yet ripe tannin. It’s certainly one of the gems in the vintage, as well as one of the more structured, opulent and age-worthy.” (11/2017)

“A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2014 Cos d'Estournel has a deep garnet-purple color and is a little closed at this stage, offering slowly emerging scents of fresh blackcurrants, black plums and blackberries plus nuances of pencil shavings, dried lavender, bay leaves and fertile loam with a waft of iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, it has a generous mid-palate of muscular, youthful fruit with a firm frame of grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and savory. (LPB)” (11/2018)

“Composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, 2014 Cos d’Estournel has a medium to deep garnet-brick color. Notes of sandalwood, dried roses, star anise, and plum preserves slowly emerge from the glass, leading to a core of red currant jelly and kirsch. The medium-bodied palate delivers fine-grained tannins and a lively backbone to support the maturing red and black fruit preserves flavors, finishing on a lingering licorice note. (LPB)” (03/2024)

“Intense, with a roiling core of luscious loganberry, blackberry and black currant fruit. Singed spice, apple wood and black tea accents emerge steadily on the finish. Has a rare combination of density and precision. Will cruise in the cellar. (JM)” (03/2017)

“The 2014 Cos d'Estournel has a wonderful bouquet. Compared directly with Montrose, there is a notch more exuberance and precision, with layers of rich but delineated plummy black fruit laced with rose petals and dark chocolate. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. There's a lovely depth of fruit and a sense of symmetry plus sapidity that compels you back for more. Silky texture, this is a Cos d'Estournel that will give a lot of pleasure in the coming years. (NM)” (02/2024)

“If you want to know what St.-Estèphe smells like, this is it. Aromas of spices, black truffles, forest floor, dried strawberries and tar. It’s full-bodied yet pinpointed on the palate with fabulous density and richness. It’s opulent but in a reserved and checked way. This needs at least five or six years to come around, but it’s already fantastic. What harmony and structure.” (01/2017)

“A very firm, dark structure sustains the ripe, bold flavors of black plums and rich berries. The wine has a structured, concentrated background that shows a new, more subtle direction in contrast with the winery's previously showy style. (RV)” (04/2015)

“A seriously impressive and evocative nose here, with layer upon layer of evolved fruits, smoked blackberry and currant, with tobacco leaf, dried cherry, liquorice, tar and rose petals. The palate is seriously convincing, with a dusky and sweetly textured yet brooding and savoury character on the palate, supported by more layers of finely grained tannins, smoky and tense. This is quite brilliant, with a degree of texture, substance and confidence that feels rare in this vintage. Absolutely top performance from Cos d’Estournel here. This has years if not decades ahead of it. Excellent.” (02/2024)

“Selecting the right moment for opening these serious wines is never easy, and the 2014 vintage will continue to soften and open over the next few decades, but the opulent black fruits in this vintage are already filling out the tannic frame. In just the 12 months since I last tasted this wine, the inky confidence and gourmet edging is increasingly irresistable. Cigar box, graphite, cloves and crushed rocks abound, with pomegranate and blueberry fruit. Beautiful, in a great vintage for this appellaiton. Michel Reybier owner, Aymeric de Gironde director at the time.” (09/2023)

“The grand vin 2014 Cos D’Estournel is gorgeous, and I think a step up over the 2015. A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, this deep, inky-colored 2014 boasts a gorgeous perfume of ripe currants and cassis fruits, loads of chocolaty oak, cedar and scorched earth, full-bodied richness, and building, firm, yet ripe tannin. It’s certainly one of the gems in the vintage, as well as one of the more structured, opulent and age-worthy. Give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following two to three decades.” (11/2017)

“The 2014 Cos d'Estournel is rich, powerful and seductive, with notable unctuousness but a medium-bodied frame. Plum, blackberry jam, bittersweet chocolate and lavender notes flesh out in an effortless, sumptuous wine that will provide superb drinking for the next few decades. The 2014 needs time to shed some baby fat, but it is quite impressive, even in the early going. The blend is 65 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 33 % Merlot and 2 % Cabernet Franc. (AG) 95+” (02/2017)

“Szechuan peppercorns on the nose, something quite spiced, maybe woody, with fragrant blackcurrants too. Sleek and streamlined, tangy and vibrant but with some tension that shuts down some of the fruity enjoyment. I like the texture and the weight, but the flavours are clearly concentrated with ripe black fruits and graphite on the finish. Give this a good air if drinking soon or leave to age longer. (GH)” (04/2024)

“Composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, 2014 Cos d’Estournel has a medium to deep garnet-brick color. Notes of sandalwood, dried roses, star anise, and plum preserves slowly emerge from the glass, leading to a core of red currant jelly and kirsch. The medium-bodied palate delivers fine-grained tannins and a lively backbone to support the maturing red and black fruit preserves flavors, finishing on a lingering licorice note. (LPB)” (03/2024)

“Intense, with a roiling core of luscious loganberry, blackberry and black currant fruit. Singed spice, apple wood and black tea accents emerge steadily on the finish. Has a rare combination of density and precision. Will cruise in the cellar. (JM)” (03/2017)

“Dense colour. Really very luscious indeed. A streak of St-Estèphe iron filings but surrounded by the more opulent fruit. Fine and refined. More fun than Lafite! Masses of tannins and density. 18/20 points (JR)” (04/2015)