2016 Château Cos Labory
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Tasting notes
Not always the most consistent 1855 estate, but it really shows its potential with the 2016 vintage. Love the marzipan and aniseed that comes in waves through the palate, set against plump and bright black fruits. Firm but supple tannins, this has got to be the greatest Cos Labory vintage of the past 20 years or more. 57hl/h yield, harvest October 3 to 12. 50% new oak, 3.6ph.
Critic scores
James Suckling
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Cos-Labory has a lovely bouquet, quite forward and open, offering brambly black fruit laced with violet. The medium-bodied palate presents supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity, and tobacco and cedar toward the classically styled finish, which displays impressive persistence. This is a wine indicative of a château that is improving, and it suggests that the hill of Cos might have two Saint-Estèphe wines worth hunting down. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.
Tasted blind. Rich and a bit toasty but fully ripe and expressive. GV (JR)
The 2016 Cos-Labory has a rather tight, reticent bouquet of muted pencil shaving and blackberry notes that cry out for more vigor. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin and good depth, and nicely defined if comparatively straightforward toward the peppery finish. Fine, but early-drinking.
About the producer
Louis Gaspard d’Estournel purchased Cos Labory in 1847 and in tribute to this history, the Reybier family (owners of Cos d’Estournel today) acquired the Saint-Estèphe estate and its 35 hectares of vines in 2023.