2006 Cos d'Estournel 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Estephe

Cos d'Estournel 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Estephe

Colour: Red

Vintage: 2006

Region: Bordeaux, Saint-Estephe

From its peak high up on the St Estephe escarpment, looking down onto Lafite at the north end of Pauillac, Cos d’Estournel’s mystical eastern-inspired Chateau has always produced wines of exotic hedonism. Famed once for its wines of monolithic weight and intensity, since 2011 the estate has seen a real shift in style focusing on creating wines that are beautifully balanced with classical elegance and finesse. The team are clearly increasingly driven to reflect the remarkable mineral terroir of the estate rather than the sheer power of its opulent fruit. Undoubtedly one of the ‘Super Seconds’, in top vintages it can really push the First Growths for quality and panache.

Tasting Notes and Scores

95 JL

Firm, crisp, classic-styled vintage of COS. There is a wealth of concentrated, deep, dark, red, and black fruits, spice, smoke, espresso, and thyme All of that is backed up by an equal wall of tannin and freshness. This is going to age for decades. Drink from 2023-2050. Tasted Oct 2023

Jeff Leve

94 RP

The exceptional 2006 Cos d’Estournel is composed of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot, 55% of the production was utilized. Revealing superb intensity for a 2006 as well as an inky/blue/purple color, and a sweet bouquet of blue and black fruits, licorice, graphite, and charcoal, this full-bodied 2006 possesses high levels of sweet tannin. This wine is characterized by a freshness and precision that give it a 1996-like affinity. Enjoy this beautifully concentrated, exceptionally pure, statuesque Cos d’Estournel over the next 20-25 years. By the way, it was bottled without any fining or filtration. Dirnk 2009-2034.
– Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #181, Feb 2009)

Blended of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2006 Cos d'Estournel is deep garnet colored with a touch of brick, opening with enticing scents of rosemary-crusted roast lamb, dried cherries, baked blackcurrants and mincemeat pie with touches of fallen leaves, cigar box and pencil lead. Medium-bodied, lively and elegantly played in the mouth, it has a firm backbone of chewy tannins and plenty of mineral accents on the long finish.
94pts Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Nov 2018

Wine Advocate

93 WI

Good deep ruby-red. Expressive aromas of dark raspberry, smoked meat, black olive, iron, smoke and tobacco. Lush, broad and sweet, with a deep smoky, meaty sweetness and outstanding palate coverage. For all its breadth and silkiness, there's no shortage of energy and definition. Finishes impressively long, with chewy, sweet tannins that dust the front teeth.
– vinous.com, May 2009

Wine Independent

92 WS

A racy, fresh style, with the lighter profile of the vintage pulling in red currant and bitter cherry flavors, while the telltale thread of charcoal and bay lingers as well. The tannins are ever so slightly grainy, but the fruit has subtle persistence in the end.—Non-blind Cos-d'Estournel vertical (December 2015). Drink now through 2026.
– JS (WineSpectator.com, 2016)

Wine Spectator

92 JS

This is very meaty and spicy now with hints of leafs and wet earth. Full body, chewy tannins and a medium finish. Ready for drinking. But has life ahead of it.
– jamessuckling.com, Oct 2015

James Suckling

915 WL

Quality 893 | Brand 996 | Economics 822 |
Quality: The highest Quality score in its peer group for the 2006 vintage, at 893 compared to a peer group average of 700 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

Wine Lister

91 NM

Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London.The 2006 Château Cos d'Estournel has a far superior bouquet to the Montrose, much more fruit intensity with ferrous red berry fruit, hints of undergrowth and Indian spice (most appropriate!). The palate is medium-bodied with supple Merlot-driven savory red fruit, a little grainy in texture with moderate depth, leading to a spicy finish that seems quite forward for a Cos d'Estournel at this juncture. There is no harm in drinking this now, though I wager that it will offer another ten years of pleasure. Just don't expect it to be your favorite Cos d'Estournel in recent years. Tasted January 2016. Drink 2016-2030.
– eRobertParker.com, May 2016

Neal Martin

Cos d'Estournel 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Estephe