2008 Cos d'Estournel

97 POINTS

Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

96-98 Barrel sample. 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.

95 POINTS

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.

94 POINTS

Neal Martin - Vinous

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.)

94 POINTS

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.

93 POINTS

James Suckling

This has not changed since I tasted it years ago. Still tight and fruity with cherries, blackberries and spices. Full body, firm tannins and a chew finish. Needs time still or decant three hours in advance.

93 POINTS

James Suckling

This has not changed since I tasted it years ago. Still tight and fruity with cherries, blackberries and spices. Full body, firm tannins and a chew finish. Needs time still or decant three hours in advance.

93 POINTS

James Suckling

A delicate and pretty Cos. Aromas of blackberries, cherries and spices follow through to a full body, with fine tannins and a chocolate, berry and light coffee character. Long and caressing. Give it a a few years of bottle age before opening.

92 POINTS

Stephen Tanzer - Vinous

Good deep ruby-red. Complex aromas and flavors of currant, raspberry, smoke, musky dried herbs, sexy oak tones and minerals. Rich, broad and lush; big, rich and sweet but with an edge of acidity giving lift and grip to the middle palate. At once sexy and serious wine, finishing with broad, horizontal tannins and excellent length.