This week, we opened a bottle of the 2003 Cos d’Estournel and the power, class and quality of this killer wine are abundant in spades! You have got to drink some of this wine! Cos is one of our absolute favorite Super Seconds and it literally sits right across a small stream from 1st Growth Lafite Rothschild- which scored 100 points in this same vintage! The 2003 Cos d’Estournel could very well be the wine of the vintage. At our Bordeaux Retrospective Vintage Tasting, the 2003 Cos won Wine of the Night and aside from a bottle of 1989 Cos we opened earlier this week, the ’03 has taken the limelight yet again! The wine is majestic, exotic and powerful with 30 minutes in a decanter. With 2 hours decanting it becomes something special! I think the wine has just entered its perfect drinking window and will stay here for 10-15 years. Supremely dark fruited with Asian spices and dried roses on the nose, pencil lead, fresh cigar and minerals on the palate. The plump black currant and black plum fruit has huge, supple tannins that carry the finish for over a minute. Like a more powerful version of Lafite for a deal! Grab some while we have it. No matter where your palate lies whether it is for the Old World or New, there is no fail that you will love this wine.
2003 Chateau Cos d’Estournel
24 bottles available (2 OWC’s)
Graileys Price: $225 per bottle | $2700 per OWC
98 points Robert Parker: The prodigious, fantastic 2003 Cos d’Estournel is a candidate for “wine of the vintage.” A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon (unusually high for this chateau), 30% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, 17,500 cases were produced from low yields. An inky/blue/purple color is accompanied by a compelling perfume of black fruits, subtle smoke, pain grille, incense, and flowers. With extraordinary richness, full body, and remarkable freshness, elegance, and persistence, this is one of the finest wines ever made by this estate. The good news is that it will be drinkable at a young age yet evolve for three decades or more. Kudos to winemaker Jean-Guillaume Prats and owner Michel Reybier.
Other smoking bottles that must be duly noted: 2007 Le Macchiole Messorio and 2011 Sine Qua Non Patine Syrah. Both of these bottles are insane! The ’07 Messorio showed great stride with gorgeous ripe berry, beautiful leather, mocha, wild herbs and brilliant spice all in a seamless, silky texture. The ’11 SQN Patine Syrah is utterly sexy… one of the most approachable, generous SQN’s I have had yet! Sumptuous in every way and loaded with bright crushed blue and purple berries, molten licorice, crushed charcoal, black olives, wild purple flowers and gorgeous layers of dark chocolate with rich vanilla and spice. If you love the complex, wild and garrigue notes of Northern Rhone’s icons, but can’t stay away from California’s hedonistic fruit, I urge you to get your hands on this SQN Syrah if you can. We’re lucky to have a few bottles here at Graileys! Shoot me an email if you’re interested any of our selections. kim@graileys.com
This is a rare bottle only for the strong… Truly a magnificent knockout wine to experience…