Cos d'Estournel 2011

St Estephe, Second Growth

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Tasting Notes
This is really excellent for the vintage with currants, dark berries and minerals on the nose and palate. Full body, firm tannins and a long finish. It’s a bit linear but racy and superb. One of the best of the vintage. Better in 2020. Score: 95 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 22 September 2015
Very dense and structured with spices, currants and berries and an underlying spiciness. Full body, with chewy tannins and a fresh finish. Structured. Firm. Slightly hollow center palate. Excellent considering the difficulty St. Estephe had with hail and early harvesting. Score: 92 - 93 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 01 April 2012
The 2011 Cos d’Estournel exhibits a dense ruby/purple color and sweet, toasty, oaky notes intermixed with floral and forest floor characteristics. The complex aromatics suggest this is a top success in 2011. In the mouth, the wine is slightly more compact than one would find in a great vintage, such as 2009 and 2010, but it has impressive richness for the vintage as well as light to moderate tannin and admirable purity. It will benefit from 2-5 years of cellaring, and should keep for 15-20 years. Only 30% of the production was utilized for Cos D’Estournel, a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Score: 91 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2016-2036 01 April 2014
Because of a smaller than normal crop as well as the elimination of vineyard parcels devastated by the hail storm of September 1, production for Cos d’Estournel in 2011 is the smallest since 1991. Production for the 2011 Cos d’Estournel (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc that achieved 13.5% natural alcohol) is about 30% of their normal volume. An outstanding effort, this deep ruby/purple-colored wine exhibits notes of lead pencil shavings, black currants, boysenberries, cedar and earth. Made in a traditional style with more acidity and noticeable tannin than in recent years, this medium-bodied, pure 2011 should drink nicely for 15+ years. Score: 90 - 92 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2012-2027 27 April 2012
A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc cropped at 36hl/ha, the 2011 has a pleasant, sedate bouquet that is well defined, perhaps missing a little tension and animation, but replete with succulent blackberry, cassis and violets aromas that render it light and feminine. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy, slightly furry tannins on the entry. The acidity it keen and citric, lending this more vigour than Montrose, whilst the finish has fine precision and length. Jean-Guillaume has fashioned a very fine Saint Estèphe for the vintage. Tasted April 2012. Score: 93 - 95 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 30 April 2012
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc. Just 30% of the crop went into the grand vin. Inky with black core and bright dark purple rim. Stunning colour. A touch of raisiny fruit. Dry, powdery tannins but quite dense and very firm. Powerful but cool. Long - the length is more structure than flavour or aroma. Needs to take on flesh. A bit hard on the finish. (JH) 13.5% (17+ Points) Score: 17 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2022-2035 16 April 2012
Rich blackcurrant fruit, slightly exotic Cos spiciness, structured smoothness and lovely elegant length. Score: 18 Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2017-2035 16 April 2012
Lilac and violet aromas quickly give way to dark toasted spice and black tea notes, followed by remarkably creamy-textured cassis and plum compote flavors, all offset beautifully by a hint of bitter cherry and tamarind on the finish. There's a saturated feel that shows no hard edges. A touch languid rather than driven, but this wine tends to put on weight and gain greater focus as it ages. Tasted non-blind. Score: 90 - 93 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 11 April 2012

Tasting Notes

This is really excellent for the vintage with currants, dark berries and minerals on the nose and palate. Full body, firm tannins and a long finish. It’s a bit linear but racy and superb. One of the best of the vintage. Better in 2020.

Score: 95

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 22 September 2015

Very dense and structured with spices, currants and berries and an underlying spiciness. Full body, with chewy tannins and a fresh finish. Structured. Firm. Slightly hollow center palate. Excellent considering the difficulty St. Estephe had with hail and early harvesting.

Score: 92 - 93

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 01 April 2012

The 2011 Cos d’Estournel exhibits a dense ruby/purple color and sweet, toasty, oaky notes intermixed with floral and forest floor characteristics. The complex aromatics suggest this is a top success in 2011. In the mouth, the wine is slightly more compact than one would find in a great vintage, such as 2009 and 2010, but it has impressive richness for the vintage as well as light to moderate tannin and admirable purity. It will benefit from 2-5 years of cellaring, and should keep for 15-20 years. Only 30% of the production was utilized for Cos D’Estournel, a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc.

Score: 91

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2016-2036 01 April 2014

Because of a smaller than normal crop as well as the elimination of vineyard parcels devastated by the hail storm of September 1, production for Cos d’Estournel in 2011 is the smallest since 1991. Production for the 2011 Cos d’Estournel (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc that achieved 13.5% natural alcohol) is about 30% of their normal volume. An outstanding effort, this deep ruby/purple-colored wine exhibits notes of lead pencil shavings, black currants, boysenberries, cedar and earth. Made in a traditional style with more acidity and noticeable tannin than in recent years, this medium-bodied, pure 2011 should drink nicely for 15+ years.

Score: 90 - 92

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2012-2027 27 April 2012

A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc cropped at 36hl/ha, the 2011 has a pleasant, sedate bouquet that is well defined, perhaps missing a little tension and animation, but replete with succulent blackberry, cassis and violets aromas that render it light and feminine. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy, slightly furry tannins on the entry. The acidity it keen and citric, lending this more vigour than Montrose, whilst the finish has fine precision and length. Jean-Guillaume has fashioned a very fine Saint Estèphe for the vintage. Tasted April 2012.

Score: 93 - 95

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 30 April 2012

65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc. Just 30% of the crop went into the grand vin. Inky with black core and bright dark purple rim. Stunning colour. A touch of raisiny fruit. Dry, powdery tannins but quite dense and very firm. Powerful but cool. Long - the length is more structure than flavour or aroma. Needs to take on flesh. A bit hard on the finish. (JH) 13.5% (17+ Points)

Score: 17

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2022-2035 16 April 2012

Rich blackcurrant fruit, slightly exotic Cos spiciness, structured smoothness and lovely elegant length.

Score: 18

Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2017-2035 16 April 2012

Lilac and violet aromas quickly give way to dark toasted spice and black tea notes, followed by remarkably creamy-textured cassis and plum compote flavors, all offset beautifully by a hint of bitter cherry and tamarind on the finish. There's a saturated feel that shows no hard edges. A touch languid rather than driven, but this wine tends to put on weight and gain greater focus as it ages. Tasted non-blind.

Score: 90 - 93

James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 11 April 2012

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