JAMES SUCKLING: The finesse is pretty phenomenal here, with such complexity of fruit and vivid, bright flowers. Lavender and rose. Seductive. Ever-so long and precise. Lead pencil and graphite. Reminiscent of old, great Cos, such as 1955 or 1982, but with so much more form and modernity. A renaissance of Cos. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 33% merlot, 1% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.

THE WINE ADVOCATE: A contemporary classic in the making, the 2023 Cos d'Estournel has turned out beautifully, reflecting a lighter touch with extraction that has delivered more sensuality and harmony without the loss of any of the estate's signature power and authority. Wafting from the glass with deep aromas of cassis, wild berries, orange zest and exotic spices, framed by well-integrated new wood, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a concentrated core of fruit, beautifully suave tannins and a cool, seamless profile. It's a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that attained 12,9% alcohol and is being matured in 50% new oak.

FALSTAFF: Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feine Gewürznuancen, ein Hauch von Cassis und dunklen Waldbeeren, Anklänge von Nelken und Kardamom. Saftig, gute Komplexität, rote Herzkirschen im Kern, integrierte Tannine, mineralisch, bleibt haften, zeigt einige Frische, etwas Nugat im Nachhall, bereits entwickelt und zugänglich.