Château Cos d'Estournel Saint-Estèphe 2025 - 2nd Grand Cru Classé (Primeurs)

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

The vinification facility, as spectacular in its own right as the château’s pagodas, is equipped with tank lifts that allow for gravity-fed processing—not only during vinification but also during aging—and was first put into use in 2008. It represents the culmination of the estate’s considerable efforts to elevate this wine to the highest possible level, with the ambition of rivaling the First Growths in quality. The deep gravel soil generally makes it the fullest-bodied of the Médoc wines, the most voluptuous in texture, while retaining the finesse and complexity characteristic of its proximity to Lafite. Recent vintages have gained even greater aromatic purity and sincerity of expression. A highly aromatic and intense white Bordeaux is produced on the soils of La Goulée, a little further north, and bears its name.

Decanter

About the wine:

A bright pink hue in the glass. Velvety, full-bodied, and smooth, yet still substantial, with notes of fresh blueberries and graphite. A very pronounced gravelly minerality lends it beautiful precision and a clean, straightforward character, while revealing lovely nuances of flavor and fruitiness. Classic in the sense that it has a low alcohol content while retaining ripe tannins—a lovely combination. I would say it is still a bit reserved for a Cos, far from the ostentatious and exuberant style one sometimes encounters. Refined yet well-structured, and certainly not overripe. Dominique Arangoits, technical director at Cos d’Estournel, stated that 2025 was a “very interesting vintage: the drought arrived early, which allowed the vines to adapt better. Easter brought three days of rain with 115 mm on April 20, which proved vital, followed by a welcome rain in late August. We began the harvest on September 3—our earliest on record. Beautiful quality of tannins and color—we benefited from a warm season but also cool nights, low alcohol, and a lovely abundance of fresh fruit. It’s a blend of styles—the ripeness and early harvest of 2022 and the freshness of 2016. Perhaps a bit like 2020.” pH of 3.68. 65% of production as grand vin. 2034–2050

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Businessman Michel Reybier, who acquired the estate in 2000, invested heavily to equip Cos d’Estournel with everything needed to produce the finest wine possible. The construction of one of the world’s most advanced wineries, designed by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, is a prime example of this. Cos has always produced expressive wines with a rather exuberant style. In the early 2000s, it even occasionally veered into caricature, pushing the finesse that the terroir is capable of expressing into the background. The tide has turned, and with the latest vintages, Cos has rediscovered an expression that once again captivates us.

James Suckling

About the wine:

A dense wine that remains balanced and complex, with well-integrated tannins and a juicy finish. It starts out very fruity, then opens up to reveal velvety tannins and an open texture. Intense yet subtle aromas of blackberries, pencil lead, and hazelnuts. Some mineral notes. A lingering, understated finish. Great potential. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

Blackcurrant, redcurrant, smoked tobacco, chocolate, and graphite: these are the aromas that characterize Château Cos D'Estournel 2025, a powerful, ripe, and concentrated wine composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, with 50% still aging in new oak barrels. On the palate, it is full-bodied, with a pure and complex texture, well-integrated oak, and a lovely finish. It remains lively, balanced, and remarkably fresh despite its weight and richness, and I would gladly rank it among the cream of the crop of the vintage.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

The bouquet of Cos d’Estournel begins by revealing its depth and character with hints of black and red berries, complemented by a touch of eucalyptus. With aeration, it further enhances its definition, emphasizing its freshness through notes of raspberries followed by licorice sticks. On the palate, the wine follows the same trajectory as the bouquet. It begins by establishing its foundation before giving way to the finer details. It gains in breadth and power, ultimately revealing exceptional intensity and a structuring acidity. A well-balanced Cos with a magnificent ability to excel equally in freshness, subtlety, and vigor. 2032–2065