Cos d'Estournel 2008

Bettane et Desseauve

Wine Enthusiast

All the right elements are here. The wine is powerful, but has a wonderful lift of fresh fruit, spiced with wood but never too much. The tannins are sweet, ripe and delicious. It shows both gorgeous fruit and a dense structure.

VertdeVin

The nose is aromatic and quite intense. It reveals notes of small wild berries, cassis, blackberry and flowers (violet, blueberry tip) combined with hints of graphite, incense, slight hints of licorice, nutmeg as well as a hint of spices, curcumin and a few discreet woody touches. The wine need to be decanted (carafe). There is a discreet earthy hint. The palate is fruity, juicy, well-balanced, mineral, relatively tight, racy, finely gourmande and offers a fleshy fruit, an acid frame, a nice matter, a certain density, finesse as well as roundness. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of blackberry, plum and black cherry combined with a touch of fresh red berries, raspberry, slight notes of licorice stick, wood, discreet notes of spices and a hint of tobacco. Tannins are a bit firm. Good length. There is a very discreet hint of mocha / wood on the persistence. (Wait 5 years)

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

Very young, as you would expect, this is still a juvenile in terms of its development. Still, if you have a few hours of time to allow it some air, the nose will show vanilla, licorice, black and dark red fruits, smoke, cassis, and espresso. Full-bodied, concentrated and fresh, at least 8 more years of bottle age are warranted here.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The medium to deep garnet colored 2008 Cos d'Estournel is blended of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Pow! The nose explodes with notes of baked cherries, preserved plums, fried herbs, beef drippings and warm cassis with wafts of wood smoke, salami and tobacco leaf. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegant and earthy/savory in character, sporting beautifully ripe, grainy tannins and bags of freshness, finishing on a lingering mineral note.

Jeb Dunnuck

The first vintage made at the new winery, the 2008 Cos d’Estournel is drinking beautifully today, with terrific complexity as well as a silky, polished style on the palate. Made from 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc and revealing copious amounts of crème de cassis and black cherry fruit intermixed with notes of toasted bread, spice, and cedar, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a silky, sexy texture, and sweet tannin. Count me in as a fan. This beauty can be drunk today or cellared for another 15-20 years.

James Suckling

A very decadent wine on the nose with so much meat, spice and ripe fruit character. Sea shell as well. Full body, tight and structured with silky tannins and a lots of intense fruit. Vibrant wine. Better in 2020 but already fascinating to drink.