Purple in color. The nose is very nice with cassis, tobacco and spice. On the palate, this has a nice texture. A lot of depth but the wine is very tight now. It kept improving all night long and probably needs at least a decade. But, that patience will be rewarded with at least a few points of upside potential. In the glass it shows nice cassis fruit, cigar box and earth. Good balance. $75
This is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot from the very good 1996 vintage in Bordeaux. purple in color, mostly opaque and bright. There is some cassis but mostly dried fruits, tobacco, cigar box, dried leather and some spice. Medium bodied with good acidity. On the palate, this is complex and fully mature. It doesn't seem much past though (depending on how you like older Bordeaux). Black cherry fruit, dried cherries, forest floor, and slight spice.
A good vintage if better on the right bank, this wine is drinking at or maybe slightly past peak, but still very nice. It is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Old school in style. Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is nice with tobacco, cassis, forest floor and spice. Full bodied. On the palate, cassis, tobacco with underlying earthiness. Good texture. Complex. Long finish. This is great on its own and will work nicely with lamb chops. Drink over the next few years.
The 2003's a general rule are all drinking at peak now. It was a very hot vintage. Some wines got very ripe and others, stayed green when the plants shut down due to the heat. Inky purple in color. Opaque and bright. The nose has cassis, spice and cinnamon. Very clean. On the palate, this has light to medium tannins, still plenty of cherries and black cherries. Ripe bit not over the top although concentrated. Long finish. This probably won't get better but should be good for another ten to fifteen years. it will work well with grilled or roasted meats or on its own.
This bottle was decanted for an hour and then double decanted back in the bottle. It might have needed a bit more than that but that was good. Ruby/purple in color. Clear and bright. The nose is a bit of a dusty attic at first. With air, cherries and cedar come out. Light tannins on the palate. Cherries with sandalwood and slight forest floor on the palate. This has a nice complexity with good layering. This seems at peak now. No hurry but it probably should be drunk by 2030. It will work better at the table at this point, roasted meats, fowl or veggies would be great.
Cos d'Estournel is one of the great wines of Bordeaux and so, one of the great wines of the world. 2008 is a vintage that doesn't always get the respect that it deserve coming right before the pair of great vintages 2009 and 2010. It is also a bit more backward than its reputation and so the wines don't always show that well at this point. They will. This one is drinking well but patience will certainly be rewarded. It needs a few more years in the cellar to get to peak. Purple in color. The nose is nice with cassis and soy sauce. Also some baking spice. On the palate, this has med
