The 2023 Cos d'Estournel [Bordeaux Blend] is a distinguished red wine hailing from the St Estephe sub-region of Bordeaux, France. Produced by Cos d'Estournel, this vintage is comprised of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. It is currently undergoing maturation in 50% new oak, with organic conversion efforts beginning in 2021 and extending due to the addition of new vineyard plots.
James Suckling awards this wine an impressive 99 points, describing it as having "phenomenal finesse" and "complexity of fruit" with notes of "lavender and rose." He likens it to great vintages of the past, such as 1955 and 1982, while highlighting its modernity.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, through William Kelley, gives the wine 96 points, praising its "lighter touch with extraction" which delivers "more sensuality and harmony" without sacrificing the estate’s signature power. Kelley notes its "deep aromas of cassis, wild berries, orange zest, and exotic spices," along with a "cool, seamless profile."
Antonio Galloni of Vinous rates it 98 points, emphasizing its "dark, resonant, and inviting" nature, filled with layers of "black cherry, plum, licorice, espresso, mocha, and incense." Galloni appreciates the wine's "tremendous substance and intensity" while maintaining balance.
Jane Anson, giving it 97 points, highlights the wine's "richness, depths, and layers of cocoa bean, licorice, espresso, chocolate," and describes its tannins as "exceptionally chewy." Anson mentions the green harvest conducted for the first time since 2008 and the balanced alcohol levels despite late heat waves.
Jeff Leve from The Wine Cellar Insider scores it 98 points, noting the "silky, fresh, opulent textures" and the "vivid quality" of the fruit. Leve predicts the wine's early approachability and its potential to age for decades.
Jeb Dunnuck, rating it 97 points, commends its "crème de cassis, graphite, violets, spicy oak, and chocolate-driven aromatics," calling it a "beautifully elegant yet powerful wine."
Lisa Perrotti-Brown from The Wine Independent also gives it 97 points, describing the wine as "deep garnet-purple in color" with "energetic notes of cassis, wild blueberries, and fresh juicy raspberries."
Finally, Decanter awards it 96 points, noting the herbal touches, dark chocolate, and ripe blackcurrants. The review praises its "great texture and structure" and its serious, yet promising finish.
Overall, the 2023 Cos d'Estournel is a standout vintage, receiving high praise across the board for its complexity, balance, and aging potential.