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95 By James Suckling
95 By James Sukling
18 By Rene Gabriel
18 By Rene Gabriel
94 By Robert Parker
94 By Wine Spectator
94 By Robert Parker
94 By Wine Spectator
This is another example of the wonderful 2004 vintage for Bordeaux. They are so delicious to drink now. The Cos is one of the best out there. And very reasonably priced at less than $150 a bottle. The charcuterie that hits you as soon as you open this Bordeaux is overwhelming: It's smoky, spicy and sexy. Minutes later you realize the complexity on offer, catching just a scent of the dark fruits hidden beneath, and before those, long and wonderful hints of balsamic vinegar. On the palate this shows elegance and finesse thanks to fabulous balance, extremely integrated tannins and a long and glorious finish. This is so satisfying and wonderful now, but the slightly bitter aftertaste on the rear palate suggests this could do with at least another 10 years before opening. 
Producer
Château Cos d'Estournel
Producing some of the greatest wines in the Médoc, Château Cos d'Estournel is undoubtedly the premier estate in Saint-Estèphe. The all-encompassing 91-hectares of vineyards surround the majestic, almost oriental domaine on the hill of Cos. Founder, Louis Gaspard d’Estournel was better known as “the Maharajah of Saint-Estèphe” in the 1800s because of his distant conquests, with his wines reaching as far as India. He built these exotic pagodas we see today in celebration of his successes. The property currently belongs to French multi-millionaire Michel Reybier, who has upheld the founding values of excellence and has pushed forth the quality even more so since 2000. Reybier’s impressive investments in cutting-edge technologies has brought the estate to new heights. The prominent vinification techniques include must-concentration, malolactic in barrel and new oak for ageing. The Cos d’Estournel is an age-worthy robust but harmonious wine that builds in intensity and complexity with ten years’ time. The second wine was initially labeled Marbuzet, which itself is a Cru Bourgeois, but it is now bottled as Les Pagodes de Cos. In 1852, he had to sell due to his overwhelming debts. The château was then sold twice more before the Ginestet family purchased it in 1917. Their ancestors, the Prats family retained it until 2000 when they sold it to Michel Reybier, a French multi-millionaire, who has spent considerable sums to carry forth Louis Gaspard d'Estournel's original avant garde style and to push forth the quality of the wine. Today, it arguably produces the grandest wine in St. Estèphe though some would argue that neighbouring Montrose surpasses it.