Saint Estèphe - red 75cl X 6 = €174 per bottle
Cabernet Sauvignon 56%, Merlot 42%, Cabernet Franc 1%, Petit Verdot 1%
2nd Grand Cru Classé 1855
Château Cos d'Estournel - 2017
A note from Cave de France: Dense and deep, the 2017 Cos d'Estournel reveals itself with remarkable delicacy and elegance. Its fine and silky tannins charm from the first moments, while on the palate, the wine displays all the sophistication of a great Cos d'Estournel: straightforward, racy, yet endowed with a generous and harmonious flesh. The nose unfolds aromas that are both spicy and fresh, perfectly balanced between vivacity and fruity richness, offering an opulent wine without heaviness and with exceptional length, promising a very high aging potential.
The precocity of this vintage manifested itself as early as March with early budburst, which continued at every stage of the vine — flowering, veraison, and harvest. The initial heat, combined with rare but beneficial water stress, particularly highlighted our clay soils, giving rise to Merlots of exceptional quality. These contrasting climatic conditions allowed for a gradual and controlled development of the vintage: high temperatures in June accelerated the precocity, while episodes of water stress favored the optimal ripening of the tannins. The cooler summer preserved freshness and fruit, ensuring a perfect balance between acidity and alcoholic potential, while the humidity in September contributed to perfecting the ripening of the skins.
Throughout the year, the team's experience and vigilance were decisive. Every intervention in the vineyard was guided by prudence and expertise, allowing the harvest to take place under ideal conditions. Once the grapes were harvested, the gravity-flow winery sublimated the fruit and substance of the juices while preserving the freshness and finesse characteristic of the estate's wines. The result is an exceptional vintage, both powerful and elegant, true to the spirit and signature of Château Cos d'Estournel.
Château Cos d'Estournel traces its origins to the early 19th century, founded by Louis-Gaspard d'Estournel, whose visionary and globetrotting spirit inspired the château's exotic architecture and the international renown of its wines, known even then as far as India. Located on the gravelly hills of Saint-Estèphe, this approximately 100-hectare vineyard is characterized by a terroir of deep gravel and a maritime climate that favors optimal grape maturity. Owned since 2000 by Michel Reybier, the estate has made numerous technical investments - notably an innovative gravity-flow winery - to combine tradition with modern oenology, while sustainably cultivating its vines and constantly seeking excellence in each of its cuvées.