Château Cos d'Estournel, 2020
Château Cos d'Estournel, 2020
- 75cl
- 13.5%
- Red Still
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Couldn't load pickup availability
Optimal drinking window: 2028 - 2055
Classified as a Second Growth (Deuxième Cru) in 1855, this Saint-Estèphe property stands out not only for its exceptional terroir but also for its unique, Moorish-inspired château, built by Louis-Gaspard d’Estournel in the 19th century.
What the critics say:
"A brooding and deep wine just on the nose, with blackcurrants, redcurrants, spices such as cardamom and nutmeg, as well as black truffles with earth. Complex. Full-bodied with fine yet chewy tannins, that are wonderfully interwoven. Very structured and long. Needs five to six years to come around. 62% cabernet and 38% merlot. Try after 2028."
"You need to take a little time to let the concentrated flavours seep out, this is a long hauler. The tannins build slowly but surely through the palate, sombre and serious right now, particularly for an estate that is known for its exuberance. The opulence is there if you give it time, and as the tannins elongate and relax, richer notes of bilberry fruits, toasted cedar, salted chocolate, turmeric and black pepper spice arrives. Harvest September 10 to 24. A 3.9pH is the highest since 2003, but any threat of low acidity is balanced by high tannins, and relatively low alcohol. A yield of 39hl/ha (43hl/ha in 2019)."
"A gorgeous, stylish wine, here you find a series of waves packed with blackberries, black plums, black cherries, smoke, licorice, dark chocolate, soy and an array of spices. Rich, deep and intense, the wine hits all the right notes as it melds power, fruit, freshness and elegance to create an opulent, velvety, silky finish that builds and expands as it hangs with you. This is so good now, it will be hard to wait to pull a cork. But its best days are all in the future. So, wait a bit and you will be amply rewarded with an incredible wine. Drink from 2028-2060."
The 91-hectare vineyard sits on deep gravel soils over a clay-limestone base, with excellent drainage and southeastern exposure overlooking the Gironde estuary. This terroir provides both power from the gravel and freshness from the maritime influence, creating wines with structure and longevity. The proximity to Lafite across the appellation boundary shows in the wine's elegance, while the Saint-Estèphe character provides the backbone and mineral intensity.
Saint-Estèphe is the northernmost and coolest of the Médoc's great communes, known for producing structured, age-worthy wines with more obvious tannins in youth than neighbours like Pauillac or Saint-Julien. The appellation's clay-rich soils favour Merlot more than the gravel beds further south, creating wines that combine power with freshness. Cos d'Estournel sits at the southern edge of the appellation, benefiting from both Saint-Estèphe's structure and the elegance of nearby Pauillac.
The 2020 Bordeaux vintage began with one of the wettest winters on record, followed by a scorching summer that nearly broke temperature records across the region. What could have been a disaster became salvation: those deep winter water reserves carried the vines through the heat, while the dry conditions from July onwards concentrated flavours beautifully. The harvest started early and moved quickly, with most châteaux picking under ideal September skies.
We find 2020 Bordeaux surprisingly charming for such a hot year - the wines show ripe, generous fruit without the baked character you might expect. The Merlot-based Right Bank wines are particularly successful, displaying plush damson and blackberry flavours with enough freshness to keep them lively. Cabernet Sauvignon on the Left Bank delivers power and concentration, though some properties struggled more than others with the heat. Most 2020s are drinking beautifully now - this isn't a vintage that demands decades of patience, and we rather like that about it.
OUR GROWERS
Château Cos d'Estournel
Explore related wines
-
-
Speak to one of our Wine Gurus
Speak to a Wine GuruWith years of experience, our team can help you with all your wine buying and selling needs