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Château Cos d'Estournel 2017

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Vintage
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TECH SHEET

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Vintage
2017
Country
FranceFrance
Region
Bordeaux
Type
Red
Alcohol
13% vol.
Bottle
750 ml

Wine profile

Red · garnet

Body
Tannin
Acidity
Alcohol13% vol
Sweetness

Tap or hover a scale

Wine profile · Red

Body

Level 4 of 5 — Full and broad – like single cream

In line with typical (3.8) · Typical: average of 711 reds at Vinogrande

What it is

Body is the weight and texture of the wine in your mouth. It comes mainly from alcohol, extract (everything dissolved apart from water), glycerol and, in sweet wines, sugar.

Where you feel it

Across the whole tongue: how much the wine fills your mouth. Think skimmed milk, whole milk and cream.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: the typical profile of the grapes (Wine Folly / WSET), as we have no specific data. Estimate

There is no single number for body. Labs measure dry extract (many wines are between 18 and 30 g/L) and alcohol, which WSET says has the biggest effect on body. Our scale rates the weight in the mouth.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Light: fluid and delicate
  2. 2Medium−: light-ish
  3. 3Medium: rounded
  4. 4Medium+: broad This wine
  5. 5Full: dense and rich

In practice, for this wine

Wants dishes with structure: red meat, roasts, mushrooms, aged cheese.

Wine profile · Red

Tannin

Level 4 of 5 — Firm – like strong black tea

Above typical (3.2) · Typical: average of 708 reds at Vinogrande

What it is

Tannins come from grape skins, seeds and oak. They give red wines structure and ageing potential, and soften with time.

Where you feel it

On your gums, inside your cheeks and on your teeth: that rough, drying feel, like after strong black tea.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: Vinogrande's tasting notes and wine description.

Labs measure total polyphenols (the TPI index), but that figure is rarely published. Our scale rates the amount and texture of the tannins in the mouth.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Low: silky
  2. 2Medium−: soft
  3. 3Medium: present
  4. 4Medium+: firm This wine
  5. 5High: robust

In practice, for this wine

Shines with red meat and fat: protein softens tannin. Decanting helps.

Wine profile · Red

Acidity

Level 4 of 5 — Lively and mouth-watering – like grapefruit

In line with typical (3.6) · Typical: average of 702 reds at Vinogrande

What it is

Acidity is the wine's freshness: it gives energy, makes your mouth water and helps the wine age. Too little and it tastes flat; too much and it feels sharp.

Where you feel it

On the sides of your tongue, and in how much your mouth waters after you swallow. The more you salivate, the higher the acidity.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: the typical profile of the grapes (Wine Folly / WSET), as we have no specific data. Estimate

Labs measure total acidity (grams of tartaric acid per litre; most wines sit between 4.5 and 8 g/L) and pH (usually 3.0 to 3.8; the lower, the more acidic). Our scale turns that into how it feels in the mouth.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Low: soft, little freshness
  2. 2Medium−: gentle
  3. 3Medium: fresh and balanced
  4. 4Medium+: lively, mouth-watering This wine
  5. 5High: crisp, racy

In practice, for this wine

Cuts through fat and salt: oily fish, fried food, goat's cheese, lemony dishes. Serve well chilled.

Wine profile · Red

Alcohol 13% vol

Level 3 of 5 — Balanced – soft warmth on the finish

Below typical (4.2) · Typical: average of 716 reds at Vinogrande

What it is

Alcohol is made when yeast ferments the grape's sugar. It brings warmth, adds to the body and carries the aromas.

Where you feel it

As warmth in your throat and chest when you swallow, and a slight burn on the nose when it is high.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: the alcohol stated on the label — On the label: 13% vol.

It is the one axis that is always measured: it comes from the % vol on the label. Still and sparkling wines: under 11% = 1, up to 12.4% = 2, up to 13.4% = 3, up to 14.4% = 4, 14.5% or more = 5. Fortified wines (Port, Madeira…) have their own scale: under 16.5% = 2, up to 18.4% = 3, up to 19.9% = 4, 20% or more = 5.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Low: under 11% vol
  2. 2Medium−: 11–12.4% vol
  3. 3Medium: 12.5–13.4% vol This wine
  4. 4Medium+: 13.5–14.4% vol
  5. 5High: 14.5% vol or more

In practice, for this wine

Classic balance, at ease with most dishes.

Wine profile · Red

Sweetness

Level 1 of 5 — Dry – no sugar you can taste, just fruit

In line with typical (1.0) · Typical: average of 720 reds at Vinogrande

What it is

Sweetness comes from the grape's natural sugar that did not turn into alcohol (residual sugar). A dry wine has almost none; a Port or a late-harvest wine has a lot.

Where you feel it

On the tip of your tongue, right from the first sip, and as a richer, oilier feel in the mouth. Acidity can mask it.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: the sweetness category recorded on the product sheet (dry, off-dry…).

It is measured in grams of residual sugar per litre. General EU bands: dry up to about 4 g/L, off-dry up to 12, medium-sweet up to 45, sweet above that. On our scale: under 4 g/L = 1, up to 12 = 2, up to 45 = 3, up to 100 = 4, more = 5.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Dry: no noticeable sugar This wine
  2. 2Off-dry: a touch of sweetness
  3. 3Medium-sweet: clearly sweet
  4. 4Sweet: rich and fruity
  5. 5Very sweet: luscious

In practice, for this wine

Goes with the whole meal, from savoury to mildly spicy. Avoid sweet desserts: they make it taste bitter.

Critics & awards

Serve & enjoy

Temperature 16–18 °CIf the room is above 20 °C, 15 min in the fridge
GlassBordeaux glass
Open ahead 15 min · No decanting

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Description

Château Cos d'Estournel 2017 is an exceptional, internationally renowned red, classified Deuxième Grand Cru Classé in the prestigious Saint-Estèphe appellation in Bordeaux, France. Considered a real triumph in a challenging year for the region, this blend brilliantly combines the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon with the opulence of Merlot.

The Wine AdvocateRP 98+Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Composed of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 grand vin yielded 43 hectolitres per hectare and aged in 60% new oak barrels. The alcohol is 13% and the IPT (Total Polyphenol Index) 68.

ColourDeep garnet-purple, the 2017 Cos d’Estournel needs some time in the glass to open, revealing beautiful expressions of preserved plums, boysenberries, blackcurrant pastilles and wild blueberries, with notes of Indian spices, menthol, lilacs and mossy tree bark, plus a captivating hint of iron ore.

ColourMedium to full-bodied, the palate is supported by a solid backbone of firm, grainy tannins, with well-integrated freshness supporting the compact layers of blue and black fruit. The finish is long and perfumed.

This wine will need another 5 to 7 years in bottle before it starts to show its full potential, and should develop for at least another 40 years. I expect it to be absolutely stunning when I taste it again at 10 years old!

Published: 16 March 2020.

Château Cos d'Estournel 2017: James Suckling Review (98/100)

With an impressive 98 out of 100, James Suckling considers Château Cos d'Estournel 2017 a remarkable expression of the estate, highlighting its combination of power, refinement and longevity.

AromaOn the nose it shows striking aromatic complexity, with sweet spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon intertwined with hints of dried meat, ripe plum, cedar and sandalwood. The whole has great depth and sophistication.

PalateOn the palate it's broad and structured, full-bodied, with a particularly dense, concentrated mid-palate. The texture stands out for the quality of its tannins, described as extremely polished and precise, giving a silky, harmonious feel.

FinishThe finish is long, elegant and persistent, marked by a remarkable combination of subtlety, firmness and freshness, culminating in an almost ethereal impression. According to Suckling, it's a wine of great class with excellent ageing potential, recommended for drinking from 2023.

What to serve with this wine

Dishes calculated from this wine’s profile, grapes and region.