2016 Cos D'estournel Blanc Bordeaux White

2016 Cos D'estournel Blanc

98 JS

Featured Review

This is very linear and direct on the palate, showing great potential and length. Full body with mango and dried-lemon character and a long, flavorful finish. Shows intent and seriousness. Tight and structured. Better after 2021. James Suckling

James Suckling | 98 JS

One of the finest whites from this estate is the 2016 Cos d'Estournel Blanc, which is 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon brought up all in oak, 10% new. It boasts a vivid gold color as well as intense notes of white grapefruit, crushed rocks, flower oil, and a kiss of brioche. Medium-bodied, rich, beautifully textured and concentrated, it’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for 10-15 years.

Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JD

Another Médoc white to bear in mind when selecting this year. A 75% Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Semillon blend, the team picked over the course of four outings, right through to 10th October having started on 12th September. This is far enough up in the northern Médoc to get full estuary breezes, and with extreme selection the crop is one third less than last year. The aromatic precision is lovely, a fresh, clean line of citrus and white peach flesh that opens up and peels itself back through the palate. (Drink between 2019-2030)

Decanter | 93 DEC

Cos d'Estournel has done a terrific job in preserving a good deal of freshness with the 2016 Blanc. Citrus, floral notes and a touch of reduction convey energy and tension, both hard to come by in 2016, a vintage in which high temperatures created less-than-ideal conditions for whites. The Blanc is fermented and aged in neutral oak, with some lees stirring, but no malolactic fermentation. The Blanc is shaping up to be a success for the vintage. Production is down by about a third because of the severe selection that was required.

Antonio Galloni | 92 AG

Composed of 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Sémillon, the Cos d'Estournel 2016 Blanc opens with exotic fruit notions of guava and passion fruit giving way to nuances of peach blossoms, honeysuckle and wild thyme. Medium-bodied, the palate is packed with tropical and stone fruit layers with a racy backbone and long, perfumed finish.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RP

Bright and high-pitched, with lime pith, kiwi core and jicama notes streaking through. A quinine accent echoes on the mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2021. 792 cases made. — JM

Wine Spectator | 91 WS

Type of Wine	Bordeaux White : In the world of wine, all other regions must bow before Bordeaux. The absurdly-talented white wine producers continue to assert their dominance by bringing out the true potential of varietals such as Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Sauvignon Gris. If you have even the slightest bit of appreciation for fine white wine, these bottles will change your life.
Varietal	White Bordeaux Blend : There is no question that red wine dominates the region of Bordeaux. With that being said, four million cases of white Bordeaux (Bordeaux Blanc) are produced each year, accounting for 10% of the region’s total production. Classic White Bordeaux Blends are perhaps the most overlooked white wines in the world today. The main varietals of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle, each bring their trademark characteristics in the creation of ethereal quality whites. Classic blends are pale in color, with flashes of golden-green, and are characterized by aromas of citrus, grass and hay. An array of flavors of honeyed lemon, orange marmalade, dried apricot and preserved tropical flavors (depending on age) infiltrate the palate. When the wines are produced according to tradition and in line with appellation laws, a classic Bordeaux white wine will contain at least 25% Sauvignon Blanc to ensure aromatic freshness. Lighter-styled, aromatic wines will contain higher levels of Muscadelle, and for a richer, more cellar-worthy style, a higher proportion of Semillon is used. Perhaps the greatest expression of classic, dry white Bordeaux blends hails from the Pessac-Leognan and Graves appellations. Here, the terroir is characterized by many lightly-sloping low rises that ensure good drainage, facilitated by a network of small streams that act as natural drains. Soils are mostly comprised of river gravel deposits up to eight meters deep, left behind by the Garonne River on limestone bedrock. The gravel captures heat during the day and releases it into the soil at night aiding in the growth and vitality of the vine roots. It is also the hottest meso-climate of all Bordeaux appellations. Numerous producers in Pessac-Leognan make stellar white Bordeaux wine, but the undisputed king is Chateau Haut Brion Blanc. It combines intensity of flavor with rich textures, concentration, and complexity and has the ability to age for decades. Domaine de Chevalier, Smith Haut Lafitte and Malartic Lagraviere are also atop the pyramid of producing classic, dry white Bordeaux blends. These wines can rival the greatest whites in the world. The Left and Right Bank also produce white Bordeaux blends; however, due to AOC laws and guidelines on allowable varietals, the wines are produced and sold as generic Bordeaux Blanc. Cos d’Estournel in Saint Estephe (Left Bank) produces a blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon. In the Right Bank, Monbousquet Blanc is a terrific example of the dry, white blends of the appellation with its balance of 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Sauvignon Gris and 5% each of Muscadelle and Semillon. They may be overshadowed by their red counterpart, but top-quality white Bordeaux blends are simply stunning, unique, sexy and luscious. Today, the quality of white Bordeaux wine has never been better.
Country	France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world. For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide. France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity. France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.

Producer	Chateau Cos D'estournel : Terroir is a French term for all the natural environmental forces which affect a wine-growing region, from soil structure to each and every nuance of the climate. It is so complex that there is no English translation. It is vital to the success of vine growth and grape ripening. Wine-growers around the world take great pride in the terroir in which they are granted. This is especially true for Chateau Cos d’Estournel. Cos d’Estournel lies at the entrance to Saint-Estephe; a village in the northern reaches of the Medoc. Ideally situated at the heart of an undulating landscape of rolling contours that serve as inspiration for its name. “Cos” is derived from the word for “hill of pebbles,” in the old Gascon dialect. Here on a plateau of deep gravel which encompasses the core of the site of both gravel and clay, while both hills sloping downward benefit respectively from eastern and southwestern exposures. The exposure along with soil type of each plot planted down to each row as well as respect for nature and environmental concerns determine the selection of grape varieties and growing techniques. Here, the terroir dictates winegrowing. It is not the ideal to plant the varieties desired or thought to excel in the terrain but decided solely by nature. It is mastery of nature’s design with human understanding and appreciation that allows for this geographical and geological hot-bed to thrive. Merlot is found to the east where clay-limestone soils are prevalent. Cabernet Sauvignon is grown on the highest parts of the plateau, where drainage is ideal. Cos d’Estournel benefits from an unparalleled combination of soils and exposures which allows the wine to expresses itself through its unrivaled genius collaboration of human and natural contribution. Its prized location, nestled between the Gironde Estuary and the Atlantic Ocean, is where the oceanic climate tempers the extreme weather conditions and where Louis Gaspard d’Estournel planted the seeds of the iconic chateau that we know today. Upon inheriting the property in 1791, he was deeply convinced that the terroir of the hill of cos was exceptional. He invested massively in the acquisition of neighboring lands swelling the property from 14 to 45 hectares. His passion, innovation and respect for the land and nature led to the tremendous success that Cos d’Estournel still enjoys to this day. He worked tirelessly to propel his property to top tier status. Sadly, he died in 1853 but the fruits of his labor would come to fruition when in 1855, when Cos d’Estournel was officially classified a Second Growth Bordeaux. Today, the property is owned and operated by Michel Reybier who is committed to the same excellence implemented by the man whose name remains on the door of this exceptional estate. He was so moved by the extraordinary personality of the estate and the audacity of its founder that when looking to procure a Bordeaux property, he said that it would be “Cos and only Cos.” Since taking control in 2000, he has implemented the planting of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, which are used to produce the Cos d’Estournel Blanc and Les Pagodes De Cos Blanc. Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot were planted to supplement Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the second wine, Les Pagodes De Cos. The flagship remains true to its identity and to what nature dictated, blended of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and married on the optimal growing hill of pebbles. 32,000 cases are produced annually.