Château Cos d'Estournel, 2eme Cru Classé, St Estèphe, 2008
This is Aymeric de Gironde's second full vintage at Cos d'Estournel and it was a lot easier than his first. There is a bit more restraint and elegance in the 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc blend than usual, but it is a bit, well, made. Not confected, but it feels like more of a product of winemaking than something that speaks of its terroir. Very glossy, sweet spice, black fruits, prunes, coffee, liqueur fruits - quite confit. It is more restrained than usual, but there is still a hint of overripe Merlot fruit. Quite alluring if not well delineated flavours of tayberry, wild berry fruit and a hint of gravel. The finish is pure, dark and mineral. Not an exceptional Cos, but it may come together nicely with a few years in bottle.
critic reviews
The 2008 Cos d’Estournel had one of the most backward, reticent bouquets that I encountered during my tasting. This is so sultry and broody, begrudgingly offering some lovely brambly red fruit mixed with pencil box. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin, plenty of black fruit laced with allspice, black pepper and sage, leading to a dense and concentrated finish that should see this age for 20 or 30 years. It does not really serve as a forerunner to the blockbuster 2009 because this is cut from a completely different cloth. (Tasted at BI Wine & Spirit’s annual 10-Year On tasting.)