2018 Goulee

The 2018 Goulée By Cos D'Estournel comes from the northern Médoc (north of Saint-Estèphe) and is mostly Merlot blended with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The northern Médoc excelled in 2018, and readers will love this wine. Lots of black cherry and darker berry fruits as well as leafy herbs, cedarwood, and a touch of tobacco define the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a plump, round, nicely texture mouthfeel, some floral notes with air, and a fresh yet balanced finish. It's the finest version of this cuvée to date and is ideal for enjoying over the coming 5-7 years.

Medium garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Goulée by Cos d'Estournel (a blend of 73% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc, aged in 20% new oak barriques), rolls effortlessly out of the glass with cheery, open-knit scents of plum preserves, boysenberries and Black Forest cake plus wafts of woodsmoke and pencil lead. The soft-textured, medium-bodied palate is bursting with juicy black fruits, lifted by a lively backbone and finishing with lovely purity.

73% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc. Barrel sample. Inky core with wide purple rim. Tangy black fruit. Very tight and upright, not a lot of flesh but lots of freshness. This is a wine for the table with its fine structure. Fine texture without huge richness in the middle but pure and beautifully fresh. More finesse than I remember from previous vintages. (JH)