Chateau Cos d´Estournel 2018

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Nuancen von Cassis und frischen Feigen, aber auch rotbeerige Aspekte klingen an, exotische Gewürze, feiner Edelholztouch, ein ungemein facettenreiches und verführerisches Bukett. Stoffig, komplex, dunkle Kirschen, extraktsüße Textur, perfekte Tannine, rund und reif, dunkle Beeren und feines Nougat im Abgang, bleibt minutenlang haften, mineralisch, rote Kirschen im Nachhall, sehr vielversprechendes Entwicklungspotenzial, hat eine große Karriere vor sich. (2020–2060)"

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2018 Cos d'Estournel is a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, aged in 50% new oak barriques. The alcohol weighs in at just over 14.5%. Sporting a deep purple-black color, it needs a lot of swirling to begin to unlock a powerful nose of crème de cassis, stewed plums, wild blueberries and chocolate-covered cherries, followed by nuances of Sichuan pepper, star anise, tree and clove oil, plus a waft of charcoal. The full-bodied palate is densely packed with taut, muscular black fruits and earthy layers, framed by super firm, ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and wonderfully earthy. A very impressive behemoth, this is going to need a good seven to 10 years to truly show its stuff and should drink for a good 40 years and beyond."

JAMES SUCKLING: "The richness and beauty of this wine is impressive with blackcurrant, cherry, berry and fresh cloves. The fruit is so pure here. Full-bodied with tannins that are so integrated and refined that you don’t feel them, yet they are there! Very creamy and layered with great length and beauty. It turns to tar and licorice at the finish. Tight now, but the texture is special. Try after 2027."

JEB DUNNUCK: "An incredible wine from this estate that's as good as anything in the vintage, the 2018 Château Cos D'Estournel checks in as 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot that was brought up in 50% new French oak. While some 2018s are going to offer pleasure right out of the gate, this isn't one of them, but rather it's a backward, tannic powerhouse of a wine that has flawless balance as well as a level of purity that's off the charts. Thrilling crème de cassis fruit, notes of lead pencil, damp earth, cedarwood, violets, and acacia flowers, full-bodied richness, masses of ultra-fine tannins, and a great, great finish all make for a legendary Saint-Estèphe that will need a good decade of bottle age yet evolve for 50 years or more. If you are tempted to try a bottle in its youth, it needs lots of air."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Just a stunning bottle of wine, everything is rocking here. Deep and dark in color, the nose pops with flowers, licorice, 5 spice, currants, blackberries, orange rind, smoke and cigar wrapper. Full-bodied, elegant, long, deep, rich and pure, the vibrancy in the fruit keeps the seemingly-endless, expansive finish on the tip of your palate. Blended from 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, the wine comes in at 14.5%. Much less wine was made this year as yields were only 30 hectoliters per hectare."

WEINWISSER: "Undurchsichtiges Purpur mit schwarzer Mitte. Komplexes Bouquet mit reifen Brombeeren, dunkler Kirsche und exotischen Hölzern. Im zweiten Ansatz Himbeerdrops und Burley-Tabak. Am mächtigen Gaumen mit butterweicher Textur, fein körniger Extraktfülle, engmaschigem Tanningerüst und muskulösem Körper. Im gebündelten Finale packt der St.-Estèphe dann zu und wetzt seine Krallen mit schwarzbeerigen Konturen, getrocknetem Rosmarin und zeigt diese typische, arrogant anmutende Adstringenz – klingt minutenlang nach. Der hat mich heute eines Besseren belehrt und dafür gibt es folgerichtig die höhere Wertung!"

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The 2018 Cos d’Estournel has a deep garnet-purple color. It gives up notes of vanilla, dark chocolate, and licorice, over a core of blackcurrant cordial, stewed plums, and boysenberries. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is chock-full of black fruit preserves, with a rock-solid, grainy texture and a very long, spicy finish."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Rich and dense, this wine is happily poised between ripe fruits and a deceptively powerful structure. Smoky flavors from wood aging combine with solid black fruits that strain but never overstep an impressive balance. This wine will age, promising much for the future. Drink from 2026."