The 2023 Cos d'Estournel is a Bordeaux blend from the renowned St Estephe sub-region of Bordeaux, France. This red wine, produced by Cos d'Estournel, combines 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. The wine is maturing in 50% new French oak and features a cork closure.
James Suckling rates this wine at 99 points, praising its finesse and complexity. He describes it as reminiscent of great vintages like 1955 or 1982 but with a modern twist. Suckling highlights its "phenomenal finesse," with notes of lavender, rose, lead pencil, and graphite, calling it "seductive" and "ever-so long and precise" (jamessuckling.com, 4/22/2024).
William Kelley from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gives it 96 points, noting its balance and harmony. He describes it as a "contemporary classic" with deep aromas of cassis, wild berries, orange zest, and exotic spices. Kelley emphasizes its "concentrated core of fruit, beautifully suave tannins, and a cool, seamless profile" (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 4/26/2024).
Vinous reviewer Antonio Galloni awards it 98 points, calling it "fabulous" with a wealth of dark, resonant, and inviting flavors. Galloni describes the 2023 vintage as having "tremendous substance and intensity" with notes of black cherry, plum, licorice, espresso, mocha, and incense (Vinous, 4/30/2024).
Jane Anson rates this wine at 97 points, highlighting its richness and depth. She notes its layers of cocoa bean, licorice, espresso, and chocolate, with "exceptional chewiness on the tannins" (janeanson.com, 4/15/2024).
Jeff Leve gives it 98 points, noting its "silky, fresh, opulent textures" and a vivid quality to the fruit. He finds it reminiscent of a modern version of the 1990 vintage, emphasizing its ability to age for decades (TheWineCellarInsider.com, 4/1/2024).
Jeb Dunnuck rates it 97 points, praising its "awesome crème de cassis, graphite, violets, spicy oak, and chocolate-driven aromatics." He describes it as rich, full-bodied, and beautifully textured (jebdunnuck.com, 5/8/2024).
Lisa Perrotti-Brown from The Wine Independent awards it 97 points, noting its "energetic notes of cassis, wild blueberries, and fresh juicy raspberries" with tight, shiny berry layers and firm grainy tannins (The Wine Independent, 5/7/2024).
Finally, Decanter rates it 96 points, highlighting its herbal touches, dark chocolate, and ripe blackcurrants. The wine is described as expressive, weighty, and smooth with a great texture and structure (Decanter, 4/8/2024).
Overall, the 2023 Cos d'Estournel has received excellent reviews, showcasing its complexity, balance, and potential for aging.