2016 Chateau Cos d'Estournel Saint-Estèphe 750 ml

“Just. Magic.”

The Wine Advocate didn’t mince words when describing the 2016 Cos d’Estournel—a wine that received three separate perfect scores. It’s hard to imagine what else we could want out of a bottle of Bordeaux—no, scratch that—out of a bottle of wine, period.

With infinite complexity, endless reserves of power, and a texture of pure velvet wrapped around skyscraper steel, it’s a “bona fide showstopper” according to Vinous—and we’ve managed to secure 48 bottles of this “monumental, benchmark Cos d’Estournel” directly from the château.

This is one of the best wines the estate has ever produced—and by extension one of the greatest wines in the history of the region. With “ultra-fine tannin that I have never witnessed in any other vintage of Cos d’Estournel” (in the words of Vinous), it shows off the impeccable balance and sheer beauty of a year that winemakers have dubbed “the second coming of Bordeaux.”

Pouring a deep garnet-inflected purple, the first revelation is on the nose—there’s just so much to take in. Vinous declared that “the aromas almost seem to envelop the senses” and we were spellbound the first time we tried it. The nose is dominated by Cos d'Estournel’s signature blend of dark fruit: plums, black currants, and blackberries mingling with a panoply of accents, including Tahitian vanilla, dried thyme, cacao, and elegant cigars.

The palate is all compressed power—like a wound spring. The intensity is stunning, and it’s all wrapped up in a package that doesn’t feel overly heavy or ponderous. Everything is in perfect proportion, and the wine is surprisingly seductive now, after a few hours in a decanter. Cos d’Estournel is always known for age-worthiness, and that certainly holds true here, but the tannins are exceptionally ripe and velvety, making for a drinking experience that captures and holds your attention.

A First Growth in all but name—and price—Cos d’Estournel is the leading light of Bordeaux’s “Super Seconds.” Although it was ranked as a Second Growth in 1855, the wine stands toe-to-toe with any in the region. 

That has been especially true ever since Michel Reybier bought the estate in 2000. The entrepreneur has poured a fortune into overhauling and updating the property, from the vineyard all the way down to the cellar. He constructed an ultra-modern winemaking facility, complete with a gravity-fed system and 84 cone-shaped stainless steel vats. These allow the winemaking team to modulate extraction during fermentation, ensuring that separate lots can be tracked to maximize control during blending.

From Cos d’Estournel’s perfectly exposed south- and east-facing slopes adjacent to First Growth Lafite-Rothschild, the 2016 is dominated by 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, which provides the wine’s power and characteristic dark fruit. 23% Merlot softens the mouthfeel and adds beautifully dusty cacao notes, while a trace amount of Cabernet Franc contributes an herbal lift.

The greatest wines come from the best estates in the best vintages—like this 2016 Cos d’Estournel—and provenance matters more than ever when you’re aging a showpiece wine for decades. Our bottles come directly from the château cellars and are backed by our guarantee, meaning that, when your special occasion comes around, this wine will drink like the icon it is.