2009 Chateau Cos d’Estournel 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Estephe 1x750ml

Vinous 91

The 2009 Cos d’Estournel is a wine that I have tasted a dozen times, from barrel until now, blind and non-blind. From the beginning I have been critical of this 2009, a wine built to appease the prevailing demand for hubristic, flamboyant Claret that in the process, lost the essence of its own character and terroir. Over subsequent tastings I have gone a little easier on the 2009 and yet tasting have proven time and time again that hedging my bet against the superior 2010 was the right move. There is no denying the pleasure that the 2009 gives. It has a gaudy, flamboyant, almost sexy bouquet with oodles of summer fruit, iodine and later plenty of crème de cassis. But is Saint-Estèphe supposed to be sexy? Not for this writer. The palate is full-bodied with rounded, velvety tannin, rich and decadent with enormous weight and fruit intensity. What it lacks is tension and finesse. What it lacks is an articulation of terroir like the 2010, 2012 or 2014. If you have a penchant for hedonistic Claret then this will satiate the senses. A wine is supposed to offer more than that, this Second Growth has provided many alternatives over the years. Tasted at the Cos d’Estournel vertical in London. [Neal Martin, 10/03/2018]

Anticipated maturity: 2018-2038

Robert Parker 91

Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. There is a lot of fruit intensity on the nose with layers of blackberry, raspberry, candied orange peel and dark plum all vying for attention. It is glossy, dare I say almost “slutty”. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins on the entry. There is good weight and volume to this wine, the Merlot more expressive than elsewhere with a lovely rich, decadent, weighty finish that is a hedonistic treat, but chooses not to translate the terroir of this great property. I prefer the 2010! Tasted January 2013. [Neal Martin, 01/01/2013]