Bordeaux 2011 - 10 Years On - 30 Reds: All tasted blind, not decanted. A few observations: 1) As expected, it's a mediocre vintage with many wines lacking depth and mid palate weight of great vintages. My average score for the reds was 91.3 pts vs group scores at more recent horizontals for 2010 (93.0), 2000 (92.7) and 2009 (93.9). 2) I expected more green/unripe notes and drying tannins but that is not the case (hence the solid 91.3 average). Most wines showed well-made (with only 6 out of 30 reds rated below 90 pts). 3) Left bank (average 91.8 pts) clearly trumps right bank (90.6) thanks to more mid palate substance. 4) Virtually no wine showed a) over extracted and already dying and b) with far too much ripeness. Both 2009/2010 (and 2015/2018) have several wines with these problem. 5) Most wines are in a good drinking window. Although not yet with tertiary complexity, the structure has softened and the wines are open (even without extended decanting). 6) Unfortunately (due to price), the best reds were Le Pin (97+ pts), Margaux (96), Petrus (96) and Mouton (95). 7) Good vintage for Sauternes it seems (we tasted only two) with a surprising Giraud (96 pts) beating a too sweet Yquem (93).
TN: This wine has an expressive nose with smoke, herbs, crushed rocks, ash and very ripe dark fruit. A bit of weird smell too but not overbearing. On the palate this is also quite singular, superb fresh but with very ripe red currant with cassis liquor. Like the Giscours, this is special but not superb. Rather 89-90 because it has no obvious fault but still not too my liking. After revealing they said that the wine is lactic, which is true.
PnP. Forwarded nose with fruit, Asian spice, soy sauce. The palate is surprisingly smooth and tannin well integrated given the young age. It showed some complexity but I bet it would perform better with proper decanting. Early drinking now and I am keen to try in 5 years
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2021 Bordeaux Tasting Trip; 7/12/2021-7/16/2021 (Bordeaux): A tasting in Bordeaux of 71 wines, some of the best I have ever had and others, umm, well were disappointing. If you read the Tasting story (and my grading history) I think it will do a much better job putting this in perspective.
I was very much looking forward to my St Estephe tastings, with super high expectations for Cos. While unfair to discount St Estephe based on Cos and Calon Segur tastings, it has certainly made it take a back seat and won’t search it out until I get to taste a great vintage from one of the estates, from my inventory or elsewhere (finally I saved money by not having to double up previous orders after the fact).
Tasted at the chateau 2011 Cos gran vin 2008 Cos gran vin 2011 pagados 2017 Cos Blanc
I wish they were willing to open other vintages as I left more confused than before I arrived. If it wasn’t for the 2010 Pagados had a couple of years earlier, I would have written this Chateau off completely regardless of its pedigree as the wines I tasted this trip, vintages and top performers literally crushed this wine.
I will withhold final judgment until I taste a better vintage.
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Nice deep colour. Have sediments in the bottom. Decanted for two hours. Blackcherry, spicy,medium bodies with low acidity, tight tannin and long finishing. Good wine.
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6/3/2023 - Kiralux Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very solid although did not overwhelm me. Lots of dark fruit, some leather and tobacco. Medium tannins. Lacked a little in length and complexity
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11/10/2021 - Cailles wrote: 89 Points
Bordeaux 2011 - 10 Years On - 30 Reds: All tasted blind, not decanted. A few observations: 1) As expected, it's a mediocre vintage with many wines lacking depth and mid palate weight of great vintages. My average score for the reds was 91.3 pts vs group scores at more recent horizontals for 2010 (93.0), 2000 (92.7) and 2009 (93.9). 2) I expected more green/unripe notes and drying tannins but that is not the case (hence the solid 91.3 average). Most wines showed well-made (with only 6 out of 30 reds rated below 90 pts). 3) Left bank (average 91.8 pts) clearly trumps right bank (90.6) thanks to more mid palate substance. 4) Virtually no wine showed a) over extracted and already dying and b) with far too much ripeness. Both 2009/2010 (and 2015/2018) have several wines with these problem. 5) Most wines are in a good drinking window. Although not yet with tertiary complexity, the structure has softened and the wines are open (even without extended decanting). 6) Unfortunately (due to price), the best reds were Le Pin (97+ pts), Margaux (96), Petrus (96) and Mouton (95). 7) Good vintage for Sauternes it seems (we tasted only two) with a surprising Giraud (96 pts) beating a too sweet Yquem (93).
TN: This wine has an expressive nose with smoke, herbs, crushed rocks, ash and very ripe dark fruit. A bit of weird smell too but not overbearing. On the palate this is also quite singular, superb fresh but with very ripe red currant with cassis liquor. Like the Giscours, this is special but not superb. Rather 89-90 because it has no obvious fault but still not too my liking. After revealing they said that the wine is lactic, which is true.
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11/1/2021 - schan109 Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP. Forwarded nose with fruit, Asian spice, soy sauce. The palate is surprisingly smooth and tannin well integrated given the young age. It showed some complexity but I bet it would perform better with proper decanting. Early drinking now and I am keen to try in 5 years
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7/16/2021 - LiteItOnFire Does not like this wine: 87 Points
2021 Bordeaux Tasting Trip; 7/12/2021-7/16/2021 (Bordeaux): A tasting in Bordeaux of 71 wines, some of the best I have ever had and others, umm, well were disappointing. If you read the Tasting story (and my grading history) I think it will do a much better job putting this in perspective.
I was very much looking forward to my St Estephe tastings, with super high expectations for Cos. While unfair to discount St Estephe based on Cos and Calon Segur tastings, it has certainly made it take a back seat and won’t search it out until I get to taste a great vintage from one of the estates, from my inventory or elsewhere (finally I saved money by not having to double up previous orders after the fact).
Tasted at the chateau
2011 Cos gran vin
2008 Cos gran vin
2011 pagados
2017 Cos Blanc
I wish they were willing to open other vintages as I left more confused than before I arrived. If it wasn’t for the 2010 Pagados had a couple of years earlier, I would have written this Chateau off completely regardless of its pedigree as the wines I tasted this trip, vintages and top performers literally crushed this wine.
I will withhold final judgment until I taste a better vintage.
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2/28/2020 - Ballballsheep Likes this wine:
Nice deep colour. Have sediments in the bottom. Decanted for two hours. Blackcherry, spicy,medium bodies with low acidity, tight tannin and long finishing. Good wine.
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