Two terrific efforts from this vintage, the 2003 Cos d’Estournel (70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc) remains one of the superstars of the vintage. It offers an opaque ruby/purple hue as well as notes of incense, camphor, licorice, creme de cassis and graphite. Full-bodied, opulent, incredibly fresh and well-delineated, it can be consumed now and over the next decade. Kudos to the team at Cos d’Estournel.Drink: 2014 - 2024

Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #214, Apr 2014).

Harvest finished this year on September 25. The 2003 Cos d'Estournel is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. It has a deep garnet-brick color and quite an herbal nose with notions of dried Mediterranean herbs and roasted meats over a core of crème de cassis, stewed plums and unsmoked cigars plus a touch of new leather. Full, rich, concentrated and decadent in the mouth, the palate, though medium-bodied, packs a wallop of fruit with plenty of earthy/savory accents and an herbal lift to the finish.
93pts Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Nov 2018

Tasted at Bordeaux Index's "10-Year On" tasting in London. The Cos d'Estournel 2003 has a more flamboyant, sumptuous bouquet compared to the Montrose with luscious redcurrant, raspberry, vanilla and graphite scents that soar from the glass. The palate is full-bodied, but I feel that it has lost weight in recent years as it sheds its puppy fat. This is a very focused Saint Estephe, very composed with fine definition and minerality towards the long finish. At the moment it stands side by side with the Montrose, but both remain true to their style. Tasted March 2013.

– eRobertParker.com, May 2013

Quality 921 | Brand 996 | Economics 895 |
Quality: Predicted life of 13 years, one of the longest drinking windows in its peer group for the 2003 vintage, which averages 8 years Brand: Strong restaurant presence, featuring on 48 of the world's top wine lists, including De Librije Economics: More traded at auction than its peers, its top 5 vintages having seen 3,203 75cl equivalent bottles traded in the past year Production: Higher production than its peer group average of 137,727 bottles

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017