2025 Château Cos d'Estournel

EXCLUSIVE - DELIVERY SPRING 2028

Winery Château Cos d'Estournel

Château Cos d'Estournel is one of the great names of Saint-Estèphe and was classified as a Deuxième Grand Cru Classé in 1855. The château is situated on the famous hill of Cos, overlooking the Gironde. The characteristic pagodas refer to Louis-Gaspard d'Estournel, who traded his wine worldwide and gave the estate a distinct identity. Since 2000, Cos d'Estournel has been owned by Michel Reybier. The style combines power, refinement, and a very precise vineyard approach. More information about this winery can be found under the Winery tab.

Region, climate and location

Cos d'Estournel is situated in Saint-Estèphe, in the north of the Médoc, on deep gravel soils with clay influences. Its location close to the Gironde ensures natural ventilation and mitigates extreme temperatures. As a result, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot can ripen slowly and evenly, retaining freshness and structure.

The 2025 vintage was characterized by early vine development. Rain in April replenished water reserves, followed by a warm and dry period. Crucial rainfall in July and especially in late August prevented excessive stress. The cool nights helped preserve fruit expression, color, and freshness. The harvest began historically early, on September 3, and proceeded under ideal conditions without overripeness.

Vineyards and grape varieties

The blend of Château Cos d'Estournel 2025 consists of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. Cabernet Sauvignon gives the wine its classic backbone, length, and precision. Merlot brings volume, texture, and a velvety roundness. Petit Verdot provides extra color, spiciness, and tension.

The estate boasts a wide variety of plots, spread across hills, plateaus, and slopes with varying proportions of gravel and clay. In 2025, both the clay and gravel soils performed exceptionally well. The château emphasizes that precisely this broad expression of the different terroirs is characteristic of great vintages. The combination of ripeness, moderate alcohol, and fresh tension gives the wine its classic proportions.

Harvest, vinification and aging

The Cos d'Estournel harvest took place from September 3 to 19. The grapes were brought in at optimal ripeness, following a summer in which the team paid close attention to water conservation in the gravel soils. This approach was essential to ensure the vines functioned in a balanced manner until the end of ripening.

Vinification takes place plot by plot, allowing each batch to be assessed and processed individually. The wine has an alcohol content of approximately 13.25% to 13.3%, a pH of 3.68, and an IPT of 81. This indicates concentration, but also a strikingly classic balance. Aging takes place in French oak barriques, about 50% of which are new. The influence of the wood supports the structure and depth without overpowering the fruit.

Color, smell and taste

Château Cos d'Estournel 2025 opens deep and intense, with dark berries, cassis, plums, and ripe black fruit. Behind these emerge violets, pencil shavings, anise, spices, chocolate, and a refined smoky note. The aromatic structure is broad, yet remains precise and cool in tone.

On the palate, the wine is full, layered, and powerful, yet without heaviness. The opening is broad and creamy, followed by a concentrated mid-palate with plenty of dark fruit and spicy depth. The tannins are ripe, polished, and velvety, yet simultaneously provide clear structure. That interplay of power and control is typical of great Cos vintages.

What stands out most is the balance. The wine possesses the natural power of Saint-Estèphe, yet remains tightly defined, fresh, and energetic. The finish is very long, with cassis, graphite, spices, and dark chocolate that linger. This is a wine with an immediate impression, but also with sufficient tension and structure for a very long aging process.

Summary of professional reviews

99 points – James Suckling: praises the purity of the fruit, the layers of cassis, dark fruit, spices, and chocolate, with polished tannins and a very long finish. 96-98 points – William Kelley, Wine Advocate: calls this one of the best Cos d'Estournels of the past decade, with classic proportions, depth, and freshness. 96-99 points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous: considers this one of the wines of the vintage, with impressive texture and balance. The full review texts can be found in the tab: Professional reviews.

Wine & Food Pairing and Discount

If available, you will find the official factsheet and additional information about this fine wine in the 'Attachments' tab. We will automatically send these to you upon ordering this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you come to collect the wine, you will often receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you select 'Pick up' on the checkout page. We are located in Dordrecht, situated almost next to the A16 with ample parking. Click here for our address.

You can read full wine reviews from Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator, among others. Need advice on finding the ideal wine for your dish? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier. Free for Grandcruwijnen customers. In the Food tab, you will find advice on what to look for for the right food and wine pairing, and a number of dish suggestions from our Sommelier.