Chateau Cos d'Estournel 2eme Cru 1989

James Suckling: A wonderful depth of fruit with very firm and dense tannins. It has so much character of olives, spices, and berries. It's the wine’s freshness and intensity that won me over the 1990 Cos. 94/100 (2011)

Jane Anson: Fragrant floral notes, the most muscular of the two 1989s, with plenty of power. Cos is known for its exoticism, and a hot year like 1989 helps to draw ou that side of things, with fruitcake, olive tapenade, fennel and black pepper spices, and a smoky caramel edge to the finish. Plenty of St Estèphe signature, and a showcase for how Cabernet Sauvignon ages so slowly on these gravel-clay soils on the borders of Pauillac. Bruno Prats was owner at the time, as we are here a full 11 years before the arrival of Michel Reybier. Likely to have been over 50hl/h yield, as this was an extremely abundant years – and provided the highest natural (with no chaptilisation, which was common at the time) alcohol on record at the time. 100% new oak. There is a youthful feel to this Cos, but it is less nuanced than the Pavie (I would suggest choosing the 1990 Cos if given the choice between the two because, although not tasted here, I have found it to be a more consistent). Still plenty of life ahead, when it may gain extra complexity – never count these out. 93/100 (2021)

Jancis Robinson: This was a high point: sweet, round and gorgeous on the nose then smoky and rich and thoroughly hedonistic on the palate. Gamey but not over the top because there is a massive undertow of concentrated fruit. Sweet finish. 18,5/20 (2015)