1989 COS D'ESTOURNEL TASTING 12 BOTTLES FROM THE SAME CASE - A STUDY IN BOTTLE VARIATION THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2024 - 7:30 PM

 "It wasn't always like this. Before Paris, people didn't drink our wine. I mean, my friends did. But you could hardly consider their palates discerning..."





Bo Barrett - Bottle Shock 





This is a wine tasting that I have been talking about for years and we finally have acquired a collection of wines where it is possible to host this event.  We acquired 168 bottles or 14 OWC 12 bottle cases of 1989 Cos D'Estournel from a collector that purchased them upon release and had them cellared underground until we pulled them out just over a year ago.   Provenance is everything with old wines and these are unicorns as OWC acquired upon release and never moved that were stored in perfect condition for over 35 years are very hard to find.





I love wine and the fact that it changes over time and evolves is what makes is even more interesting to me.  Over years of tasting wines the most disappointing thing to me is how over time every bottle is potentially different because of the piece of bark that they cram in the bottle to keep the wine from getting out.  The cork aka piece of bark makes every bottle potentially a different universe and therefore every bottle in a case could have a slightly different taste because of this.  Tonight we will open 12 bottles of the same wine from the same case to show you our "Wine Drinking People" why we are big advocates of alternative enclosures.





This is the first tasting of its kind to take place at Wine Watch and although we are drinking the same wine all night we will be drinking 12 different bottles because of the piece of bark that they cram in there to keep the wine from getting out.  This is serious scientific work we are doing and tonight I will convince our tasters that natural cork needs to be replaced! 





Join us as we experience one of the greatest vintages from the 1980’s with a special menu created by chef Toni to compliment the tasting wines.  The fee for this event is $350 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.  Please let us know when you make your reservations if you have any dietary restrictions and chefs Toni and Dani will be happy to accommodate you.

1989 COS D'ESTOURNEL TASTING 12 BOTTLES FROM THE SAME CASE



A STUDY IN BOTTLE VARIATION



Friday, May 24th



7:30 PM











1989 CHATEAU COS D'ESTOURNEL, SAINT-ESTEPHE



Price: $425.00                   Sale Price: $350.00                        Quantity in Stock: 160



(93 Points) Complex aromas of tobacco, earth and forest leaves follow through to a medium body, with fine tannins and a fruity and soft finish. Very soft and long. At its peak, but pretty and seamless.  Wine Spectator



 

Menu



French Bistro Salad:  Bibb Lettuce, Walnuts, Tarragon, Chives with Hardboiled Egg and Shallot Vinaigrette



Chinese Style Crispy Duck Pancakes



Tournedos Rossini: Seared Filet, Grilled Portobello Seared Foie Gras with Truffle Demi Glaze



Apple and Cinnamon Creme Caramel Gateaux





The fee for this tasting which includes dinner is $350 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.  Please let us know when you make your reservation if you have any dietary restrictions or aversions and chefs Toni and Dani will be happy to accommodate you.

A bit about Chateau Cos D’Estournel:

















Cos D'Estournel lies across a marshy meadow and up a slope from what may be the world's most famous wine estate, Château Lafite Rothschild.  Cos has always been an odd curiosity among the stately châteaux of the Médoc, for the property is unlike anything else in all of France.  At the top of the hill with vineyards gently fanning down and out over the surrounding slopes sits the great chai - a fantastic architectural amalgam of Chinese gothic and French country château.  D'Estournel is the legacy of its first proprietor, Monsieur Louis Gaspard D'Estournel, who used to breed horses and ship them to the Orient.  Monsieur D'Estournel was inspired by what he saw on his many trips; the entrance to Cos D'Estournel probably best embodies the former owner's taste for the exotic and the unusual of the East.  The main door to the chai once formed the entrance to the harem of the Sultan of Zanzibar and is carved with vine leaves, bunches of grapes, flowers, and wondrous animals.  Three Chinese style pagoda turrets grace the structure, and a triumphal arch leads to the main road.  The visual impact is almost shocking in the context of its surroundings; one can just imagine the controversy it must have aroused in the staid and somber Médoc of the early 1800's.











Unlike its immediate neighbors to the South in Pauillac - who were producing wines of world fame by 1800 - Cos was a late bloomer.  Although wine may have been made on the property in the late 1700's, it wasn't until the early 1800's when, according to legend, Louis decided to sell some of his home-grown stuff on one of his trips to the Orient.  However, the folks back East didn't buy a drop, and he had to cart it all the way back to France.  At the conclusion of the lengthy round trip, he found that not only did his wine travel well but that time had softened it up marvelously.  It fetched a very high price on the Bordeaux market; and from that point forward, Cos D'Estournel was in the wine business.   Louis D'Estournel continued to improve Cos all the way into the 1850's and sold it just before his death in 1853 at a price equivalent to that paid a year earlier for the great Château Mouton Rothschild.  That Cos D'Estournel had risen to a position of prominence in that era was confirmed by the 1855 Grand Cru Classification of Bordeaux.  It was ranked a second cru as well as being rated the highest rated wine of the commune of St. Estèphe.











After Mon. D'Estournel's death, the estate changed ownership several times and was bought in 1919 by the Ginestets, one of Bordeaux's leading wine families.  The proprietor at that time, Bruno Prats, was a son of one of the Ginestets (his mother was the sister of Pierre Ginestet, the former owner of Château Margaux).  Prats spent his summers at Château Marbuzet, for there has never been a real château at Cos D'Estournel - only the great chai (the winery and barrel aging facilities).  In fact, it was not until the mid seventies that the word Château was affixed to the name; before that time the label said only Cos D'Estournel. Although Cos D'Estournel has always been considered the best wine of St. Estèphe, it was never considered in the same league as some of the great châteaux of Pauillac, St. Julien, and Margaux.  All that changed under the stewardship of Prats, and Cos has gone from strength to strength.  Excellent wines were produced there in 1978 and 1979, and the Château probably produced the greatest wine in its history in 1982 - it rivaled the wines produced by the first growths.  The 1985 was every bit as good as the 1982, this elevated the prestige of Cos D'Estournel to even higher levels. 











In 1998, the PRATS brothers sold Cos d'Estournel to the Merlaut family, the owners of the Taillan group, and to Argentinian investors represented by Mr Mayano.  Cos was sold again in 2000 and currently belongs to the Société des Domaines Reybier.  With this most recent change in ownership came Jean-Guillaume Prats, great-grandson of Fernand Ginestet and son of Bruno Prats who was also the manager of Cos from 1970 to 1998.  Since Jean-Guillaume as taken the helm many critics felt that Cos D'Estournel is producing a wine that is on par with the first growths of the Médoc! 











The production of Cos D'Estournel is approximately 20,000 cases a year of a wine that is built for aging, fairly austere when young Cos needs 10-15 years of age in a great vintage like 2001 and can last for upwards of 30 years if cellared properly.  The 2001 is a typically large-scaled Cos D'Estournel, but the wine still has remarkable elegance and approachability for a wine from Saint-Estèphe.  This may be attributable partially to winemaking practices, partly to the grapes in the final blend (the vineyard is planted to 60% Cabernet and 40% Merlot), and partly to the soil.  The estate's attributes are best described by the noted English authority, Clive Coates, who says:  "Cos is really a different wine from any other St. Estèphe...a wine which is somewhat softer and more elegant, less aggressively powerful...Cos, however, has both the power and finesse, both the body and the delicacy, both the backbone and the fruit”.  In the words of Clive Coates, "Grand Vin, indeed!"







Owner of Cos d’Estournel since 2000, entrepreneur Michel Reybier is a simple and discreet man. Moved by the extraordinary personality of the estate and the audacity of its founder, his decision to acquire was clear: it would be “Cos and only Cos.”







Today he remains deeply attached to his vineyard. “At first glance, I was attracted by the history of the place. And then when I visited the estate, I felt instantly how unique, how exceptional it is.”







Michel Reybier is an active presence throughout the year and a major actor in the estate’s development. In this he resembles his predecessor Louis Gaspard d’Estournel, with whom he also shares a profound passion for Cos d’Estournel.

All the Cos D’Estournel in the store on SALE!!

2019 CHATEAU COS D'ESTOURNEL 'G D'ESTOURNEL', MEDOC, FRANCE

Price: $45.00     Your Price: $39.60           Quantity in Stock: 5

G d’Estournel evokes the wonderment of an explorer returned home from the Far East, his soul replete with luminous memories of majestic Indian elephants, shimmering Burmese gold, the finest of Nepalese silks, the warm glow of Vietnamese lanterns…

A harmony of delectable fruit, a whiff of incense, the sheen of a case inlaid with mother of pearl… and memories of these refined, opulent delights suddenly spring back to life.

MERLOT : 86%

CABERNET SAUVIGNON : 13%

CABERNET FRANC : 1%

The vineyard saw more extreme weather conditions and less rain than Cos d’Estournel. Fortunately, the vineyard was able to compensate for climatic conditions thanks to the age of its vines and their roots, which forever dig deeper from one year to the next, light ploughing efforts—carried out more intensely than usual—and the fresh air brought by the nearby Gironde Estuary.

The 2019 vintage of G d’Estournel delivers vivacity and balance; it is at once fresh and rich, vigorous and discreet. Vibrant and highly spirited, with unmistakable notes of pepper, it is a long, silky wine, whose nose of blackcurrant and violet is highlighted by aromas of eucalyptus, thyme and rosemary.

2014 CHATEAU COS D'ESTOURNEL 'LES PAGODES DE COS', SAINT-ESTEPHE

Price: $75.00                     Your Price: $66.00                Quantity in Stock: 11

The joy and spontaneity of moments shared with loved ones. An impromptu lunch with friends is the perfect occasion to open a bottle of Pagodes de Cos. It is reminiscent of the simple pleasures of life, like homemade blackcurrant syrup, a bowl of just-picked red cherries or a freshly opened jar of citrus jam. Pagodes de Cos is at once indulgent, comforting and vivacious, like a carefree conversation with family or friends in a familiar place.

1982 CHATEAU COS D'ESTOURNEL ST. ESTEPHE

Price: $760.00                   Sale Price: $630.00                Quantity in Stock: 2

(96 Points) A spectacular performance for this wine, Cos d'Estournel's 1982 exhibits a dark ruby/purple color with light pink at the rim. Sweet aromas of jammy black fruits intermixed with roasted espresso and vanillin jump from the glass of this young, concentrated, full-bodied, succulent effort. An opulent texture, low acidity, and splendidly pure, concentrated, blackberry and cassis fruit suggest this 1982 can be drunk now, or cellared for another 15-20 years. An awesome wine! Wine Advocate # 129, Jun 2000

1983 CHATEAU COS D'ESTOURNEL ST ESTEPHE, FRANCE

Price: $425.00                   Sale Price: $325.00                Quantity in Stock: 21

(91 points) Dense and powerful with tobacco, cherry and vanilla aromas and flavors. Full-bodied and very firm with a long finish. Needs time. (JS) (10/1994)  Wine Spectator

1986 CHATEAU COS D'ESTOURNEL, SAINT-ESTEPHE, FRANCE

Price: $375.00                   Sale Price: $275.00                Quantity in Stock: 13

(95 points) Vibrant deep colour, this has masses of spice box and minerals on the nose. Of course, the 86 was famous for its power and tannic structure and this is still muscular and foursquare, but the tannins are beginning to yield and soften. Very fresh acidity and classic sweet cassis fruit with notes of minerals, underbrush and tobacco. Very pure and long. Impressively, the wine had been decanted two hours previously and was still evolving in the glass more than an hour later. (JS) (12/2015) Decanter

1990 CHATEAU COS D'ESTOURNEL, SAINT-ESTEPHE, FRANCE MAGNUM

Price: $995.00                   Sale Price: $825.00                Quantity in Stock: 3

1990 CHATEAU COS D'ESTOURNEL, SAINT-ESTEPHE, FRANCE

Price: $495.00                   Sale Price: $395.00                Quantity in Stock: 14

(94 Points) Not as concentrated as the 1982, or as most of the vintages made since 2001, the 1990 Cos has reached full maturity. It exhibits sweet berry fruit intermixed with spice box, herbs, and spring flowers. Expansive, round, and sensual, with wonderful purity as well as lushness, this irresistible wine can be enjoyed over the next 6-10 years. Wine Advocate # 183, Jun 2009

1996 CHATEAU COS D'ESTOURNEL ST. ESTEPHE, FRANCE

Price: $425.00                   Sale Price: $350.00                Quantity in Stock: 79

(93) Made from 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot, this is a huge, backward wine. The 1996 possesses an opaque purple color, as well as pure aromatics consisting of cassis, grilled herbs, coffee, and toasty new oak. Massive in the mouth, and one of the most structured and concentrated young Cos d'Estournels I have ever tasted, this thick, structured, tannic wine has closed down significantly since bottling. It requires 7-8 years of cellaring, and should last for 30-35 years. It is a fabulous Cos, but patience is required. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2030. Wine Advocate #122 (Apr 1999)

1999 CHATEAU COS D'ESTOURNEL ST. ESTEPHE MAGNUM

Price: $650.00                   Your Price: $572.00                Quantity in Stock: 1

65% Cabernet, 35% Merlot, 60% new oak; A great success for the vintage, with a first wine comprised of only 25% of the harvest; young, dark color; the gravel soils protected the harvest from rains, and resulted in considerable concentration, tannic solidity, much body and superb aromatic complexity.

2003 CHATEAU COS D'ESTOURNEL ST ESTEPHE

Price: $350.00                   Sale Price: $275.00                Quantity in Stock: 10

(98 points)  The prodigious, fantastic 2003 Cos d’Estournel is a candidate for “wine of the vintage.” A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon (unusually high for this chateau), 30% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, 17,500 cases were produced from low yields. An inky/blue/purple color is accompanied by a compelling perfume of black fruits, subtle smoke, pain grille, incense, and flowers. With extraordinary richness, full body, and remarkable freshness, elegance, and persistence, this is one of the finest wines ever made by this estate. The good news is that it will be drinkable at a young age yet evolve for three decades or more. Kudos to winemaker Jean-Guillaume Prats and owner Michel Reybier.                                Wine Advocate #164 Apr 2006

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