Château Cos d’Estournel Saint-Estèphe 2021 is a sophisticated and distinctive expression of this iconic Bordeaux estate, combining power with the elegance and freshness of the vintage. Awarded 96 points by Decanter and 95 points by James Suckling, it opens with perfumed aromas of violet, lavender, cassis, dark berries and lead pencil, with subtle mineral and cigar-box nuances. The medium- to full-bodied palate is beautifully layered, balancing concentrated red and dark fruit with fine, creamy tannins, lively freshness and a distinctive salty, wet-stone minerality. Structured, polished and persistent, this is a refined Saint-Estèphe with excellent ageing potential through the 2040s.

Decanter | D 96
Published: Nov 30, 2023
Drink: 2027-2048

This stands out for its structure, subtle power, balance and finesse. Perfumed and softly sweet on the nose, ripe and concentrated, glorious and inviting. Creamy and chalky at the same time, lovely texture and density with bright and concentrated strawberry and red cherry fruit. Crisp, sweet, salty and sour, a lovely combination of flavours and textures with great drive and an undercurrent of minerality and salty wet stone finish – real St-Estèphe signature.
Closure: Cork
Alcohol: 12.74%
Body: Medium
Grapes: 64% Cabernet Franc 30% Merlot

James Suckling | JS 95
Published: Dec 16, 2023

Floral aromas with violets, lavender and currants. Lead pencil, too. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins that caress and please. Elegant and sophisticated. Linear line of tannins running through this. Needs two or three years to soften. Hold for now.

The Wine Advocate | RP 93+
Published: Feb 9, 2024
Drink: 2026-2045

The 2021 Cos d'Estournel is one of the denser, more muscular wines of the vintage, wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries, cassis, charcoal, sweet cigar wrapper and subtle hints of smoked meats, framed by a touch of toasty new oak. Medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, it's rich and quite concentrated for the vintage, with a chassis of sweet, generously extracted tannin and a long, lusty finish.

Jancis Robinson | JR 16
Published: Jan 29, 2025
Drink: 2027-2035

Tasted blind. Especially deep crimson. One of the headiest, ripest noses so far. Velvety texture and, strangely for a 2021, it seems to lack acidity! Fashioned to grab attention, but I prefer some of the more classical St-Estèphes. Clumsy finish. Almost Napa-esque. But it will please some. Jancis Robinson