Das Chateau Cos d'Estournel 'Exotic Travel Box Set'
Wie ein Kuriositätenkabinett, das an eine Reise in ferne Länder erinnert, bietet das Exotic Travel Box Set eine einzigartige Gelegenheit, den Stil der Weine von Cos d’Estournel anhand von 4 sinnbildlichen Jahrgängen zu verstehen.Das Exotic Travel Box Set ist limitiert auf 100 Stück und enthält die Jahrgänge 2000, 2010, 2015 und 2016, von denen jeder eine Facette des Terroirs von Cos d’Estournel offenbart. Die Weine werden in Magnums abgefüllt, ein ideales Format für die Verkostung, und spiegeln das Streben nach Exzellenz wider, das seit 2000 mit der Ankunft von Michel Reybier fortgeführt wird.
Chateau Cos d'Estournel 2000:
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc
"Blended of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2000 Cos d'Estournel is deep garnet in color with a touch of brick and sporting a lot of tertiary evolution on the nose. It leaps from the glass with opulent sandalwood, Chinese five spice, cigar box and leather scents over a core of prunes, baked cherries, dried mulberries and eucalyptus plus a touch of potpourri. Medium-bodied, the palate is laden with fragrant fruitcake and exotic spice layers, framed by wonderfully plush tannins and a refreshing line, finishing with an exhilarating menthol lift." - Robert Parkers Wine Advocate
Chateau Cos d'Estournel 2010:
78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
"Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Cos d'Estournel unfurls slowly, measuredly, releasing delicate notes of dried mulberries, stewed plums and blackcurrant pastilles before giving way to notions of potpourri, black cherry compote and chocolate box plus touches of dried sage, tobacco and new leather. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a rock-solid foundation of very firm, grainy tannins and very lively acidity supporting the remarkable intensity of tightly wound fruit layers, finishing very long and fragrant. Give it another 4-5 years in bottle and this will be stunning!" - Robert Parkers Wine Advocate
Chateau Cos d'Estournel 2015:
76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23.5% Merlot, 1.5% Cabernet Franc
"Composed of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23.5% Merlot and 1.5% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Cos d'Estournel is muted at this very young stage. The nose offers fleeting glimpses at provocative cherry tart, chocolate mint, baked redcurrants, warm cassis and wild blueberry scents plus suggestions of lilacs, cinnamon stick and Indian spices. Medium to full-bodied, the palate absolutely explodes with vibrant red and black fruit bursts and tons of exotic spice accents, framed by super ripe, super firm tannins and a lovely line of freshness, finishing very long." - Robert Parkers Wine Advocate
Chateau Cos d'Estournel 2016:
76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc
"The 2016 Cos d'Estournel is blended of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc aged in 65% new and 35% two-year-old French oak for 15 months. Bottled in July 2018, it is deep garnet-purple colored and starts off a little closed and reticent, opening out slowly and seductively to reveal beautiful lilacs, rose hip tea, crushed stones and camphor nuances over a core of crème de cassis, kirsch, wild blueberries and mocha plus wafts of incense and wood smoke. The palate is simply electric, charged with an energy and depth of flavors that seem to defy the elegance and ethereal nature of its medium-bodied weight, featuring super ripe, densely pixelated tannins that firmly frame the myriad of fruit and floral sparks, finishing with epic length. Just. Magic.
Rains on 13th September helped finish the ripening in 2016," winemaker Dominique Arangoits informed me. “There was a little water stress here on the young vines,” he confessed. “It was very important not to overreact to the wet conditions in June, not to de-leaf too much. We have to be more careful than in the past. It was not a very early vintage, but we had to be careful with the Merlot and not to harvest too late. It was very important to keep the fruit and the energy in the wines. In the end, we didn’t even need to fine the wines—this was only the second vintage for this. We started in 2015. In 2017 we will probably not need to fine either. We have our own bottling line, so we have control.
Arangoits and his team nailed it in 2016. It is also important to highlight that the transformation at Cos d’Estournel since Michel Reybier purchased the château in 2000 is simply incredible. Reybier’s considerable efforts since then in the vineyards and the winery are remarkable. What he has achieved has not only helped to bring the estate up to its true potential but also instilled a pretty impressive batting record when it comes to consistency of quality. Readers may want to check out my dedicated article on this estate, also published this issue, with a look at vintages 2000-2015." - Robert Parkers Wine Advocate
Das Château Cos d´Estournel
Zwischen Pauillac und Saint-Estèphe, etwas abgegrenzt vom Château Lafite liegen die Weinberge des Château Cos d´Estournel und dominieren das Ufer der Gironde. Nach Westen an den atlantischen Ozean und nach Osten an der Gironde grenzend, profitieren die Weinberge von einem äußerst günstigen Mikroklima, welches wie eine Art Temperaturegler, die Weinreben vor extremen Temperaturen schützt.
In der alten Sprache der Gascogne bedeutet »Cos« in etwa soviel wie "Der Hügel der Kieselsteine". Und in der Tat sind die Weinberge des Château Cos d´Estournel, die an den Hügeln der Gironde gelegen sind, eine beeindruckende Ansammlung von Gesteinen aus dem fernen Massiv Central und den Pyrenäen. Diese geologische Besonderheit »zwingt« die Weinreben, die auf den Gesteinen geplanzt sind, besonders tief in die nährstoffreichen Schichten zu wurzeln. Somit entsteht ein besonders konzentrierter Saft in den Trauben, der dem Wein von Cos de Estournel seinen besonderen Geschmack verleiht.
Die Weinberge von "Cos" breiten sich rund um das Schloss auf 91 Hektar aus. Dabei nimmt Cabernet Sauvignon ca. 60% und Merlot ca. 40% der Rebflächen ein, wobei die genauen Anteile von Jahrgang zu Jahrgang variieren können. Nur Trauben von über 20 Jahre alte Reben dürfen in die Weine des Château Cos d´Estournel. Diese werden oftmals noch selektiv per Hand gelesen.