2021 Château Cos d'Estournel

The former owner and namesake Louis Gaspard d'Estournel was known as the Maharajah of Saint-Estèphe. He decorated the castle in Indian style, gave grand parties and lived beyond his means. In 1852 he was completely destitute and had to sell his domain. He died a year later. Cos d'Estournel is perhaps the Chateau with the most new and advanced technique for making wine. From the harvest to the maturing of the bottles, everything is carefully monitored and carried out with the greatest care. For example, they have managed to create a vinification process in which the wine is transported without pumps. All actions are carried out by gravity. In 1855, the Chateau obtained the 2nd Grand Cru Classé status

Only 53% of production made it to Grand Vin, and the blend is 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Technical director Dominique Arangoïts reports that Cos was spared frost and coulure during flowering, with harvest between September 23 and October 4, and that fermentation was slightly hotter than in recent years, around 28-29 degrees Celsius. The 2021 Cos d’Estournel shows promise, offering rich aromas of dark berries, plums, exotic spices, loam soil and rose petals, followed by a medium to full, deep and seamless palate that is impressively vibrant and concentrated.