Tasting notes

2009:  A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc.  Fine yet powerful aromas of cassis, plum, black sour cherry and minerals.  The wine is of great density on the palate, yet retains an elegance and sense of finesse, so finely polished it is.  Extremely fine tannins and quite extracted palate remain balanced with lovely, understated ripe fruit and fresh, clean acidity.  An extraordinary wine that is reminiscent of Cos d’Estournel, but really turns up the intensity of everything.  A brilliant wine, but will clearly be a polarising style.  96-98 points, drink 2020-2040.  (April 2010).

2007:  A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon 12% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, aged in 80% new oak.  Attractive, fine aromas of spice, plum and soft red fruits.  Really lovely on the palate, soft and ripe fruits, quite fleshy, although with a solid backbone of tannin.  Very impressive concentration and intensity, as well as great length of finish.  Has a certain sexiness and appeal to it.  Really lovely wine in this difficult vintage that exemplifies Cos’ place at the top of the second-growth hierarchy.  94-96 points (April 2008).

2005:  78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc.  From barrel (May 2006) the wine showed slightly reserved aromas offering very pure black fruits, minerals and spice with coaxing.  The wine is endowed with substantial tannin, but this is extremely fine and well-rounded.  The fruit is very pure in character, with loads of liquid minerals, black berries, plum and spice.  Excellent complexity already, the wine is layered and has extremely impressive length of finish.  A masterpiece that is neither too structured nor too opulent.  Balance gives this wine its strength.  96-98 points.  From bottle (twice, February 2009 and August 2009) the wine has not only achieved its early potential, but perhaps surpassed it, adding a bouquet that cannot be described other than sexy and beguiling, with copious ripe fruits and spice intermingling and captivating the consumer.  Pure and fresh, very complex and completely silky smooth on the palate, with a very long finish, it is now showing signs of shutting down but will doubtless evolve into a modern classic.  98 points.

2004:  A wine of interesting contrast, in that it is ripe and exotic, with lifted, spicy aromas rich with fruit, whilst at the same time it is quite reserved, with solid, tobacco and leaf-filled flavours and a certain density on the palate.  Very good complexity, and lovely spice on the finish, the wine is absolutely delicious, but somewhat reserved and a little perplexing in terms of future direction and development.  I look forward to revisiting this wine in a few years.  93 points.  (September 2007).

2003:  A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc.  Wow, this is a truly exciting wine.  In May 2006 the wine showed quite fresh and vibrant aromas of black fruits, loads of minerals, and some exotic spice.  Very lengthy and pure on the palate, with great intensity and concentration.  Clearly a ripe vintage, but no jamminess or sur-maturite.  Liquid minerals, cassis, blackberries, very good acidity and extremely fine tannins.  Really serious stuff.  96 points, drink 2008-2020.  Even better in March 2007, and showing the same density of spice and exoticism, with slightly more finesse and integration.  Lovely richness without any sense of over-ripeness.  Dense and complex on the finish, very polished and delicious and extremely more-ish, it feels almost wrong to be enjoying such an opulent wine at such a young age.  97 points.

2001:  Wow, this is a really attractive and compelling wine!  Loads of spice, ripe fruit, density and complexity - rich and ripe red and black fruits, and a lovely smooth, mouth-filling richness on the palate.  Long, fine and complex finish, this is wonderful already but should improve further.  94 points.  April 2004.

1995:  Slightly unusual aromas showing some herbal tea/Chinese spice/mandarin rind notes.  On the palate the wine shows some bright acidity, and very slightly disjointed tannins, good length and moderate complexity.  92 points (August 2005).

1990:  Tasted three times with consistent notes.  Quite rich and mature, with somewhat exotic spice and ripe berry fruit aromas.  On the palate the wine is quite plush, with good depth of fruit.  There are very fine, firm tannins framing the fruit, and lovely acidity.  Whilst quite powerful, it is not of the intensity of more recent vintages.  94 points (last tasted June 2007).

1989:  Surprisingly soft in style, with lifted, complex aromas of spice, tobacco and plum.  On the palate there is quite firm tannins, perhaps slightly overshadowing the fruit.  There’s good complexity and intensity, although it’s by no means a powerhouse or overt style.  Has a touch more undergrowth/developed character than I would have expected for the vintage, but delicious nonetheless.  This was a pristine bottle served at the Château.  92 points, drink now to 2015.  April 2008.

1985:  Beautiful, fine and elegant, showing lovely maturity with very secondary aromatics of woodspice, minerals, tobacco, camphor and gentle plum.  On the palate the wine is absolutely delicious and very complex, still with freshness but fully mature.  Simply classic.  94 points.  (April 2010).

1978:  Showing signs of full maturity, lovely complex, slightly herbal characters with a good, medium-intensity finish.  90 points.  July 2001.

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