Given the age, this was surprisingly fresh and fully alive. Stand A in the bottle, but cork 85-90% soaked, so maybe good that it was opened today. In the nose a lot of forest soil notes, forest moss, and pine. On the pale a soft texture and surprisingly fresh minerality. Very, very enjoyable. It stayed alive in the glass for hours throughout the evening. Enjoyed along with a 1999 Cheval Blanc and yet both where great wines, the Estournel took the price. P95+
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Josh (who we met at burgundy fest) brought this over to the wine industry dinner. I felt like this developed the mevushal pruniness flavors more than the light weight complex acid flavors Bordeaux sometimes develops into. Very interesting wine that was enjoyable and everyone else loved it.
Privilege to have had a 38 year old wine!
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A groovy Danish record biz guy brought a bottle of this to dinner. What a treat. No decant required. Took about half an hour to open in the glass and then lift-off.
When a wine is this old and well-stored, all the elements become integrated and bedded down. No rough edges. Just silky, unctuous fully mature texture and flavor. This wasn't a powerhouse year, so more feline and enigmatic than other star name Bordeaux Cabs, but Cos makes it that way too by design: the ~30% Merlot softens the red brick Cab core without giving up the long-term complexity.
The signature element of Cos for me, possibly its unique characteristic, are the echoes of far east spicebox, the hints of cinnamon, cedar, mint leaf... Deliciously hard to pin down as you chase the flavors round your mouth before it ends with a backwash of classic Bordeaux earthiness.
Here's the offical Cos website waxing lyrical on this exotic quality: "Little by little, it evokes stories of distant places, market stalls brimming with unfamiliar fruits, spices and wares, village festivities warmed by the joy of revelers and the setting sun, and sumptuous visions of ladies and their voluptuous curves." Mille et une nuits (Arabe) in a glass!
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The 1985 vintage is the winner of the 5-step Cos d'Estournel vertical non-blind tasting. Mouthwatering dark berry notes on the nose as well as palate held over 2h - very long and intense finish. Tannins and acidity are well integrated but not dominant at all - very smooth and enjoyable. Reminded me rather of a big Pauillac than a St. Estephe. Fantastic. Don't spoil your palate with any food or side disturbances - enjoy it straight in a perfect wine glass. Best of all: it still has enough power to survive a mere five years plus in your cellar: hats off to all the owners.
Double-decanting 3h before - slightly overpriced imho ($350+ vs. 1989 Pichon Baron for instance).
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Bordeaux 1985 Grand Tour; 5/5/2017-10/20/2023: Prominent nose with earthy/woody notes. Cassis, cherries, dried plums, cedar, camphor, menthol and herbs. Medium to full bodied with good concentration. Softly textured. Tannins were still present but well integrated. Cork was protruding by a couple of mm and crumbled upon extraction but no issues with the wine otherwise. In a very good place at the moment and will hold for a couple of years but unlikely to improve further.
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Medium-dark garnet in color with slight clearing at the edges. Full, forward & attractive nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blackberries, & cassis with classic overtones of cigar box notes of cedar & tobacco, leather, floral notes of violets, herbs, mushrooms, minerals & earthy/dusty notes. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & silky smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, blackberries & blueberries with herbs, mushrooms, minerals & a slight hint of oak. Lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & airing. At 38 years of age, I doubt any substantial development would occur from additional aging. Fill was at lower neck; cork was saturated midpoint but intact. An outstanding Cos.
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Evidence of leakage and possible heat damage, but a nice dark color. Very reticent for the first half hour and then this started to unfold with burly tannins, tobacco, and dark fruit (in that order). Tannins seemed to integrate on day two and this presented as a bit smoother, but the fruit also receded a note. Overall, this is very big and very structured. This may last another 10-15 years, but seems unlikely to improve.
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Still got strong tannins and got quite strong primary notes for a close to 40 yr old. Finish is pretty short though and unfortunately the tannins leave a bit of a harsh finish. I’m afraid this wine is quite on the decline. Perhaps in 5 yrs the tannins might melt away further and be more rounded but I just don’t see much potential left here.
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Second of three bottles, this was not quite matching the previous one, but some variation is to be expected with older wines. Cherry and tobacco are aromatic on the nose with additional menthol notes. Secondary characteristics have developed on the palate with tertiary hints. Showing good depth and balance, this bottle was showing harsher tannic notes as previously. That said, it is highly recommended, and relatively good value for money.
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Question: Does a wine need 100 points to be perfect? Emphatically: no! This wine was such a terrific wine to drink with my family tonight. When I first opened this baby, it was a little crusty, grumpy, so I let it breathe in the decanter for about an hour. Wow, did this wine just go from solid to gas!! It had that 1985 loveliness combined with a little rusticity… I mean there was iron, and rustic mineral, combined with dark black and darkest red cherry, an absolute throwback. Enhancing the dark fruit and mineral, green and ripe tobacco leaf, perceptions of loamy earth, soil, and red clay, river gravel, maybe a hint of navel orange, and even a little bit of a floral component at the end. The wine was just so not too big, not too ripe, and this combined so nicely with elegance/rusticity combination, that made a gorgeous, perfect wine begging for food and great family time! I love 1985…
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The cork was in remarkably good shape when pulled. Extremely dark garnet color with some bricking at the edges. Earthy nose, full of loam and mushroom.
Popped, poured and sampled over a few hours. Upon opening: Richly deep flavor profile. Concentrated hard candy and dried currant up front, with savory notes of tobacco and leather on the mid-palate. Great mouthfeel, smoothly silky with very soft tannins remaining.
Three hours later: it’s all savory notes at this point, spice box and cedar, with a slightly overripe raisinated tone. Actually quite delicious.
Another hour later: it becoming more concentrated and complex. Lots of extraction, and the finish goes on forever.
I suppose it all depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for lush fruity tones, then this one is over the hill from your point of view. On the other hand, if you’re looking for racy, spicy, savory notes, this one is in a sweet spot. For me, it may be a few years past its prime, but it’s been really fun to follow its maturational trajectory. I’ve got another bottle or two stashed away somewhere. I’ll report back in a few years.
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Perhaps due to colder storage, this bottle seemed much younger than prior bottles. It needed several hours in the decanter before opening up and even then was not ready. Classic St. Estephe wine, very structured and good with lamb.
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Incredible nose the punctuated the air upon opening, mushrooms, earthy, all the qualities of a great Bordeaux and a great btl. Drink to enjoy or hold for its 40th anniversary.
The Inaugural Paris Wine Event (Papies at Passy, Paris): Opened and left to rest . Chose not to decant as wine had a fragility to it. This is the fifth time we try this in the last decade or so ( Papies 92-94) and frankly the wine was below expectations albeit we felt this is more a specific bottle issue than the wine it self. So a bit flat, lacking a sparkle that 1985 usually has, lacking energy in a way and the fruit was on the muted to dull side. That being said the wine was healthy and no TCA was detected and had a solid cork and in neck level. Enjoyable ? Yes but lacking the magic that other 1985s have at this stage. 90 on this occasion and maybe better one tries these sooner than later.
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1985 Bordeaux Horizontal - London (Noizé, London): This is the most youthful of the wines we've tried tonight. The nose has a lovely brandy snap character that complements a core of cool dark fruits, the gingerbread and the dark chocolate. This also feels very together and a little aloof as its rival Montrose can also be. Had the palate delivered on the promise of the nose I would have scored more highly but the palate is tight and doesn't give much away at this stage. Needs another 5 year at least to my mind. Great promise, mind.
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Earthy nose of leathery black fruits along with a hint of peppermint, a touch of spice! Refreshing palate of again, leathery fruits, a hint of smokiness, graphite, and meaty texture! It is, in my opinion, to pair it with lamb or duck dishes, with friends of course! Dark in colour and certainly with a few more years to go at the very least!
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I am beginning to convert to 1985 as a vintage, which unfortunately is overshadowed by being sandwiched between 2 of Bordeaux's most legendary years, and this did not disappoint. Fully mature, this however still needs 3 hours in the decanter to fully blossom. The nose is rich with cherry and tobacco with faint wafts of menthol. The palate is earthy but with the cherry prominent and is perfectly balanced. The finish is excellent and pushes past 30 seconds and displays surprising tannic grip. This is showing secondary and tertiary notes and there is no reason for not enjoying this now as it has hit its drinking plateau.
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The cork slid into the bottle but the wine was still excellent. This is elegance personified and my favorite Cos , even more than the 90. Loamy and earthy nose tinged with tobacco gives way to a still remarkably silky and elegant mouth feel yet backed by a nice acid backbone. Dark fruit predominates but a teasing raspberry note appeared after four hours opened and decanted. The sweet fruit finish is subtle but lasts 30 seconds. Love this wine. I bought it in the mid 90s from a wine store going out of business so the providence before I stored it in my cellar is unknown.
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Oh my goodness, this was so exceptional! I love when Cos shows its black fruit, green and ripe tobacco, earth and soil tones, combined with what I can only call elegance from 1985. This was such a terrific wine, and the reason to buy, and save wines to drink much later in their lives! I’m reminded when I drink this wine of river rocks, reminiscent of Graves, and lovely spice more than you would think of the Christmas/bakery type. This wine drinks so easily get it has plenty of backbone. It prompted me to order four more bottles that I found in Europe, I found mine forever. I hope the provenance is as good…
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Drinking just great right from the get-go. It was opened and decanted and there's a strong masculine style to this. Almost a bit musky. Very vibrant and strong and I think just excellent. Made the Montrose seem a bit muted in comparison.
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Dark more black than the ruby at rim. Restrained nose of earthy stuff - gravel and organic soil notes - eclipsed by domineering cocoa and espresso impressions. Thick rich dense concentrated and lengthy palate- tannins remain lively in presence but not abundant. Nice bitter moka finish.
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Nose: Elegant perfumed nose of graphite, tobacco, cherry, plum, cocoa and loamy earth. Just a bit of a cherry tobacco element and bits of vegetal notes at the edges.
Palate: This is a regal wine on the palate that shows its breeding. Silky palate feel with just a bit of tannin. Plum, loamy earth, graphite and pencil notes. Tobacco, vegetable garden and so much complexity.
Finish: There is a surprising amount of tannin that grips your lower gums as this finishes. Great stuffing for the tertiary phases of this wine's life.
This is my 2,000th note on cellartracker and a mighty fine wine to pluck from the cellar for the occasion.
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Fully developed, the nose, with its spice box, tobacco leaf, forest floor, and cigar wrapper calls your name. Medium-bodied, fresh, vibrant, round, and packed with dark currants and red plums, this is ready to go. If you have a bottle, there is no reason to hold this any longer. It will not improve.
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This wine is fading and should be consumed sooner than later. At a tasting of 12 bottles of Cos 1961 to 2010. Enjoyable, but not in the top wines of this tasting.
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From a perfect bottle held since release. This bottle was all closed up (I think my storage is too cold!) we had a glass and decided to wait 24 hours (lightly corked) which was the right call. After a day it was just delicious, almost tasted a little sweet. Long finish, perfect balance, beautiful in every way. Love Cos, at its best, like this.
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Real shame - this is my favorite wine of late. Slight sweet cork/maderized nose. Certainly drinkable and our company enjoyed it but not a representation of other current spectacular bottles.
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Starts out a little dry, a little flat, but soon cruises into an enviable position half way through the first glass. Shows a lot like other 85s displaying lots of red-fruited appeal and aromatic intrigue. Some firm, ferric tannins reveal the wine’s identity and St Estephe origins. Tasty, tertiary, old school. A-
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Epic Bordeaux for an Epic Birthday!; 9/1/2021-9/12/2021 (Paris & Bordeaux): Wow - drinking really nicely. This is in just the right window and was my WOTN. It’s a bit more earth and forest than it is fruit but that’s ok because there’s still that wonderful vibrancy of a great wine. Just in a great spot.
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A beautiful Bordeaux. Fantastic dark colour, and an almost floral nose that opened up after a few hours. Much depth on the palate, with good minerality. Very nice!
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A monstrous nose of cigar box, ash, smoke and dried bell pepper. Fully resolved on the palate with plenty of remaining richness. Nicely complex throughout.
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Disappointment of the night, didn't live up to the expectations. The wine didn't have the complexity, finesse and incredible fragrance I tasted in another vintage. Not a bad wine but just underwhelming. On the nose, loads of eucalyptus/menthol and not much else. On the palate, dense but it felt somewhat heavy and clumsy and fruit was gone. This wine felt muted...at nearly 36 years of age.
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Stored in a cold cellar since release. Brick red colour. Restrained cedar, leather bouquet. Surprised by acidity. Tannins resolved. Medium. Good length and depth. Some complexity. Seems to be two choices drink soon or for those with a decade or two in hand a possibility of something rather special.
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Light red almost translucent. Weak aromas initially but it builds up to show raspberry, red fruit, tobacco, cigar. Complex nose. Taste of dark fruit over fine tannin. Very vital with very nice balance and a balanced finish. Great wine!
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The dark master. Roasted and rich with notes of coffee and dark fruit. Somewhat hard around the edges. Nonetheless, this is a great wine full of character and complexity.
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Best bottle (Restaurant Brunnenstube, Beinstein): Tasted blind. Clear, deep garnet color. Clean nose with some lovage, fine oak, tobacco and leather. On the palate high acidity, lots of dark fruit, tannin is a bit rough. Wine still seems youthful. Finish is medium-long. Lacks a bit of depth and complexity for a great Bordeaux, but it is great to see, how this wine can age. 92-93
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A proper bottle, finally, exhibiting all the nuance, charm and depth of the vintage. Previous bottles (from the same case) have been a little underwhelming but this reminded me why ‘85 was the vintage of Cos that I preferred at a Kevin Zraly tasting of the chateau many years ago.
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I hope this is not a representative bottle because it is probably the most disappointing Cos I’ve tasted. Cork looked bad, saturated and loose when I inserted the screwpull part of the Durand. Still, the fill was good (base neck) and the color is excellent, Though on the palate there are hints of some madeirization. Nose shows cedar, cigar box, dried cherry and hints of mint. Palate is a bit thin on the fruit with a solid wall of tannins and medium+ acidity. Not bad, but not good for this estate. Blown out of the water by the ‘85 Haut Bages Liberal we had the other night.
I guessed St Estephe from 1988 - close, but still - this is is a wonderful example of a classical Bordeaux-wine, vertical, manly, dry, yet plenty of fruit left here. Tannins seems fully integrated, it's drinking a point now - probably in the late part of the drinking window. Tobacco, lead pencil, black berries galore - a wine from the Old World. Thanks, HSA, for bringing this. #Kandestederne#H&M#BB
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Fully mature. Brick color. Quintessential tertiary Bordeaux flavors. Lots of mushrooms, smoke and earth all kept in balance by sufficient acidity. The Cabernet shines through in this wine, giving it a robust profile. Superfine tannins keep it all together. Delicious.
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Mature and a bit sweet Medoc aromas, with minerals, flowers and leather. The earlier coffee aromas have disappeared, like they were in a bottle two years ago. A bit rustique, but also soft. The massive mouth feeling typical for St. Estephe is not there any more.
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Notes from 18:"Color was a faded purple/garnet, bricking at the edge. Nose of dusted dark berries, minerals and floral notes.. Elegant, mature palate showing black cherry, cassis, mineral, cigar, forest floor and violet. Smooth texture, medium bodied and long (for this age) finish."
Picked up a bit more chalk and mineral with this bottle (from memory). Drank well and did not fade over the course of 3 hours. I wrote that its past its peak a couple years ago - which while true the wine is not fading based on this bottle. Will probably drink last bottle in next 2 years - classic Bdx!
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Initially a bit funky, after ninety minutes the fruit emerged, the color seemed to clear up and it opened up to show true St Estephe Cos character.
The foil and label are like new, the cork was intact with the lower quarter starting to saturate.
Garnet colored with a slight tinge of brown rust bricking, medium full bodied, complex, concentrated, rich black berry and black cherry fruits with notes of leather, tobacco, coffee, herbs, spice and hints of cedar with lush tannins and crisp acidity on a long aromatic finish.
Last 2 bottles. 1 perfect, 1 not-so-perfect as lightly (?) corked & ignored here. Good one: Filtered, decanted, rested 30 min & served @61F. Black fruit fading to cigar/tobacco & spice, fully resolved tannins, chocolate powder (dusty?) mid-palate and a leathery finish. This was an excellent example of why there's [uniquely] nothing quite like a good well aged Bordeaux. Great with mushroom/onion stuffed beef tenderloin.
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1985, Château Cos d’Estournel, Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, Frankreich. Mittleres Rubin, Reifentöne. In der Nase offen und wunderbar duftig mit Zedernholz, Tabak, Gewürzen, Kräutern. Im Gaumen weich und zugänglich, mittlerer Körper, sehr feines, abgeschmolzenes Tannin, die Frucht wirkt warm und reif, im Abgang mit viel Würze. Ein reifer Cos, der aktuell viel Trinkspass bietet und sein Plateau noch einige Jahre halten dürfte. Bis 2026 geniessen. 18.5 vvPunkte (92/100) vvWine.ch
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Opened and poured in decanter - Heavy notes of dates, chalk, mint for the first hour or so. This wine opened up to a beautiful bright structured cherry and tobacco driven claret. Was a spontaneous open and decant, opened for a non wine friend. He was amazed by the transformation of this wine over 2 hours. From a .375
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From 5L: At first I was worried this was a little green, but that seemed to change as the wine opened up. So much going on in the glass that seemed to only improve with air. Due to this format, I would believe the wine could have lasted another 10-15 years no problem. Fun wine that was very pleasurable.
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Pnp. Light bricking at the edge, garnet core. Getting mostly blueberry, dried herbs, woody aromas and a touch of Asian spice on the nose. It’s not overly expressive. The palate is silky as it gets. Tannins fully integrated. A bbq saucy/spicy element carries over from the nose to the palate. Leaning more savory but still totally enjoyable. Acidity is present but not overtaking. I’d say this has another few years left but it’s time to drink up.
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Notes from a year ago:"Color was a faded purple/garnet, bricking at the edge. Nose of dusted dark berries, minerals and floral notes.. Elegant, mature palate showing black cherry, cassis, mineral, cigar, forest floor and violet. Smooth texture, medium bodied and long (for this age) finish."
Nose of this bottle more layered than last bottle - Minerals, stone and graphite shining through a bit more, early on it was great to just take in the nose...medium bodied palate showing black cherry, cigar, box, savory/meats, and floral/violet.
In a really good spot right now. likely past its "Peak" but just a classic Bdx, nicely expressive drinking well.
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A delicious bottle, yet just slightly off previous examples, suggesting that this is perhaps on the downslope of its aging profile. A classic nose of cigar, strawberry jam, pencil and beef stock but on the palate it's beginning to show its age with the fruit becoming a tad dilute and the acidity a little more prominent.
There's probably a good 5 years of ideal drinking left in this one but I wouldn't be shy in consuming any remaining bottles over the next 2-3 years.
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Pichon Baron and more (Dino's Grotto, DC): Pop and pour, drunk over 4 hours. Dark red core, fading at the rim. Dusty, mushroom and earth nose with faded cassis and cherry fruit, hints of cedar. Medium body, nice complexity and balance, medium-long finish. Though a step behind bottles from a few years ago, still excellent and one of the stars of the night.
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A beautiful bottle of this wine and drinking near the very top of the vintage now. Full and broad across the palate with delicious flavors of charcoal, dark earth, gravel and exotic spices. Finishes smooth with softened tannins and layers of dark chocolate and sweet tobacco. Gorgeous and perfect now.
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One of the most funky, stinky bottles I e opened in a while. Like a cloud of poisonous gas setting just above the wine. Smelled really sharply of green pepper and rotting leaves. Gave it some time in the decanter - over 3 hours - the funk blew off, had some balsamic, green pepper, occasional hints of fine clear cherry coming through. The palate was much more intense I Rialto, then leveled out with time . A good wine drinking experience.
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Very fresh and lovely. Much better than the 20 year old verdict between 1986 and 1985. The best producers made better wine in 1985, at least the way they taste today. Classic nose of green leaves, fresh flowers, cedar, green pepper, thyme. Medium body with mature tannins, a bit acidic but not at all like 1986.
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Beautiful aged bordeaux. Leather, roast meat, tobacco. Rich, but featuring secondary characteristics. Fruit has largely gone but it remains interesting.
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Red currant, aged cigar, blackberry but just a hint. Medium body, fully integrated mature Bordeaux. In a great drinking spot right now. The fruit is almost gone but the secondary flavors of tobacco and slight leathery touches are very refined. I would drink sooner rather than later.
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Guys Night - Bordeaux vs Napa (Jason's House): 1 hour decant. This wine had mixed opinions as to how good it is. I thought it was a great old Bordeaux, soft integrated tannins, harmonious palate. There is the typical funk, cedar box, earth, red fruit.
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Aged High End Bordeaux Blends (Jason P's, St. Paul, MN): Very dark red color with a 7mm transitional bricked margin. One hour decant, drank 1 glass over 2 hours. Drank next to the '84 Dominus. The Cos is much more fruit driven, complex dark fruits of cassis and boysenberry on the nose, scorched earth, pipe tobacco, smoke, wood. The palate is dense and concentrated, black cherry, plum, cassis, oak, scorched earth, round tannins, smoke and a bit sharp on the finish. 93+pts.
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Nose: Plum, blackberry, turned earth, cigar and spice notes. Palate: Great palate weight giving dense plum notes, but the red fruit had focus. Acidity keeps it fresh as the wine delivered graphite, floral and muddy earth notes. Finish: Resonating dark fruit, tobacco and earth.
The 85 Cos continues to show great. I prefer this to the more voluptous 86 which spill over into roasted fruit too often. Charming and fresh I'll keep drinking this while it is in top form.
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This wine pours an inky purple with a garnet core, a brickish orange rim and long legs. With time and air (5 hours), the wine starts to unravel its denseness and the nose is all the more powerful and concentrated. The bouquet yields a harmonious marriage between primary black fruits, macerated cherries, lead pencil shavings, stewed plums, and tertiary notes of cedar, cigar box, smoked meats, black tar and burnished leather. Such angularity is classic St. Estephe. The age is really starting to take a grip. On the palate, the characteristically harsh tannins of this AOC are now mellow, resolved, and well-integrated into the wine. Along with the bold structure yields a supple generosity in the juice. Despite the age, the wine is still lively and kicking, thanks to its balancing acidity. Just like the nose, tertiary notes are starting to preponderate and there are plenty of cigar smoke, ripe cherries, green peppercorns, cassis, coffee, sous bois and leather. The wine lingers on for a very long time and displays layers upon layers of flavors with flair. Finally, the juice concludes in a smoky, peppery finish that is intertwined with plush cherry sweetness. This wine is a textbook example of what a gracefully-aged reference Bordeaux can offer. It is certainly at its prime now and will surely hold for more years ahead.
Color was a faded purple/garnet, bricking at the edge. Nose of dusted dark berries, minerals and floral notes.. Elegant, mature palate showing black cherry, cassis, mineral, cigar, forest floor and violet. Smooth texture, medium bodied and long (for this age) finish.
Really gorgeous, still an expressive wine even at this age. A classic old school Bdx, at a perfect spot right now. My WOT(Lunch)
At Wolfgang's Steakhouse, Hong Kong from Magnum. Despite the fact that this was served in magnum, I couldn't help feeling that this bottle had reached it's peak, although it did hold well in the decanter all evening. Nevertheless, good old fashioned claret.
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Fading a bit but still damn good claret. Beautiful nose springs from bottle upon opening. Fruit front and center, well balanced with acid and tannin. Will last a while on it's plane of maturity, but will not improve Lovely sweet finish.
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Packed with tobacco, cedar, smoke, spicy red fruits and cigar box aromatics, the wine is medium/full bodied, with a finish that marries cassis, black fruits and cranberry. While there is no hurry to drink well stored bottles, this is fully mature.
Lovely mature Bordeaux aromas, with minerals, flowers, green herbs, earth and leather. The former coffee aromas have disappeared. Typical St. Estephe, with its massive and mineral mouth feeling. On the other hand it was also soft and mature on the palate.
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This was a wonderful showing for a delicious, plummy, earthy, smoky, cedary, classic Cos. Ripe and lively in the mouth. Others found this a little quiet on the nose and while the volume wasn't turned up too loud, I thought there was plenty there. Not as complex as the Pichon Lalande beside it, but very satisfying.
very elegant and light with refined Bordeaux character. Pencil, cedar and flinty notes but in a subtle - perfectly balanced. Not a heavyweight and thanks for that. Excellent to drink now.
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Plenty of mature Bordeaux charm, cedar, smoky poblano, some dark fruit, good texture and acidity but generally seems reticent and not particularly giving right now. A little more intrigue on the nose than palate, and not quite living up to expectations but enjoyable all the same.
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Rich, deep, tasting young. Plum, red and black fruit. There was nothing about this that jumped out nor was there anything off with this bottle. I liked it but fear it may have been overshadowed in a night of great wines. Pleasurable and tasty for sure.
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Mixed 1985 Dinner (Amali): Spicy nose, some cool cola, and a ton of shaved red cedar. Came back to this two hours later and the red cedar and dried back cherry is huge. No brett, super clean, just mature and developed. Earth-driven tones keep it intriguing. Fine drinking for lovers of classic claret. Enjoyable now but has structure and fruit flavour to carry on for decades.
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WCC Saint Estephe Blind Tasting (Provence Restaurant, Albany, NY): Smoky black fruit in the nose. Juicy black fruit in the mouth. Long and still a bit tannic. Once I knew which wine this was, I was shocked. I would never have imagined that a 1985 would taste this young past 30 years of age.
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Outstanding color and string floral nose. Decanted for an hour. Initial taste had tar like finish, then over the next hour developed really well and the filet only added points to the only over taste of the wine. Wow! Buy.
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Wine was disappointing! Closed, tight fruit, black cherry fruit with leathery flavors, excellent structure, well integrated, good acidity, short finish. Wine seemed to lack vibrancy. Don't remember what it was like when last tasted but gave it much higher score.
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Agn, bt decanted 2 hrs+, deeper color than the 82 Canon, nose has more structure, and higher acidity which made the wine completely plush and enticing. Leather, tobacco and cassis. On palate, similar aroma and really a gem. Highly recommemd.
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Consistent with my last note. This wine is very graceful and balanced. Plummy Cos fruit with classic earth/mineral tones and just a bit of Cos Spice. Choosing between vintages 85 is currently superior to the 86 with a much more direct approach and clear personality.
JB @ Cabotte (Cabotte): Sweet and cedary nose. Very St Julien, but more clay and mineral grip on the palate that points to St Estephe. Middle-aged, quite trad with a little herbal edge. 85 or 78? Yup, all makes sense when revealed. Lovely trad claret. ****
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Wow, what a nose! This wine just confirmed that 1985 is my favorite Bordeaux vintage for aromatics, especially left bankers. Wafting notes of cedar, tobacco, cherry, cassis, earth, black tea, and pencil. Never faded and was delightful all night long. The palate holds up its end of the bargain, though without the fireworks of the nose. Pretty similar from a flavor standpoint to the nose, the palate is rich and offers very nice layers of complexity. Not a blockbuster, but this is a contemplative wine and is well worth taking your time with. Highly recommended. 95 Pts
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is light sediment in the bottle. It aromatics are outstanding and it smells like blackberry and black currant (cassis), and it held it flavors till the end. It tastes like blackberry and red currant. The body is medium. The wine has round texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity. This wine was rich and full of grace and finesse; flavors and aromatics are concentrated with a jammy sweetness, round and beautiful.
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Ian Springett's St. Estephe Off-line (RSJ Restaurant, Southwark): Slightly dusty/earthy even green nose, but also some attractive cedary red fruit. Medium bodied, harmonious, soft tannins, attractive cedary red fruit, balanced acidity, perhaps falls away a tad on the finish but very good. ***
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St Estephe @ RSJ (RSJ, London): Riper and plusher than the Haut Marbuzet on the nose, but seems a little green and herby with air. Comes and goes a bit after a three hour decant, but seems to pull itself back together again after a slight leanness and attenuation on the palate. Savoury and quite classic after a while. Lovely. ****
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15 Vintages of Cos d'Estournel (Ripple - Washington, DC): This wine stands out for its bright, red-fruited approach. Smells tangy and herbal with bright red currants, red apple peel, violets, bay leaf, cigar smoke, floral perfume - an incredibly complex and elegant nose on this beauty. Bright and clean on the palate, with refined tannins and fresh acid. The red currant fruit is laced with rose hips, white pepper, cardamom, floral perfume, oregano and tobacco. Long, crisp finish, full of complexity. So bright and sexy, and showing wonderfully. Not the most heralded wine in the lot, but for my palate, the freshness on this wine is so damn attractive.
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Fully mature and drinking so beautifully. A very soft, open texture with classic Cos notes of gravel and black currants with hints of herbs and spices. The finish is soft and complex and rolls over the tongue the way mature left-bank Bordeaux is supposed too. Just drinking beautifully tonight.
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Nice bottle, excellent fill. Cork halved and crumbled when opened. Double decanted for 2 hours and served. Initially I thought this wine is dead. Funky nose and diluted watery wine. When it was served 2 hours later it expanded into a surprisingly lovely bouquet of rose and cherry with lively fresh cherry and plum. Nice long expansive finish. Should be in this drinking window for 5 years. Enjoy yours now. Nice QPR as well for around USD 100 at auction
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Just as incredible a wine tasting experience as suggested by my notes of two years ago. This is the last of my '85 Cos and I am imagining what it would be like to open a bottle like this every day of your life. Heaven perhaps...
In one word. Delicious.
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November 2015 - Copenhagen On a 1985 vertical of 16 wines, This is good but not great, have had at least 6 bottles over the past 10 years, for me it is not getting better and was better 2-5 years ago, believe me it is a pleasant mature Bordeaux who gives you a great time, but against all the big shots it was short.
Drink 2015-2020
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Tasted alongside 1985 Pichon Lalande and Gruaud Larose. More backward and robust than both. Less floral and scented than the Pichon Lalande. More earthy, smoky, leathery notes on the nose. Great grip and texture, very vibrant and fresh with lots of ripe, juicy fruit. Very well balanced and showing wonderful length. My favourite 1985 in this tasting and a great bottle, confirming the high rating from about 18 months ago. No rush. 93-95
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1982, 1985 & 1989 Bordeaux Super Seconds, with Richard Brazier (Handford Wines, London): Still quite a fresh red colour. Vibrant in colour. Classic nose, leather, mushrooms, but with very healthy fruit interlaced. Quite alive, balanced and elegant (a 1985 hallmark) , good length. A few harsh notes here and there but a pretty solid, nice wine. Soft and elegant Cos and seems to still be going strong. 92-93
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Inviting dark sweet dried red fruit aromas with classic green pepper edge. Nice mature flavors in fine balance showing, dusty black cherry, green pepper, and nice overall sense of good ripeness. Was groups favorite of the nite as drank very well. A friendly wine with subtle complexities and a good finish. A very good drinking window that has years left.
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Chateau Cos d'Estournel Dinner (The Bristol - Chicago IL): Very pleasant. Nicely mature with balanced aromas of black fruit, spice, earth. I find this somewhat one-dimensional on palate, consistent with previous bottles, and don't exactly understand why others seem to enjoy this a lot more.
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During a tasting, served semi blind. Medium garnet, brick rim. Nose of cedar, caramel, mint. Enters the palate unusually soft for a St.Estephe with complex aromatics and very good, soft mouth feel.
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Cellar aged since purchase in 1988. Did not decant. First whiff feared it might be corked, but it was just a quickly disappearing scent from the removed cork--then it quickly gave way to a classic Bordeaux nose. Color suggests normal not excessive signs of aging. Light body (but not thin) led to an impeccably balanced wine that paired seamlessly with a grilled shell steak. Plus finish. This bottle is in the perfect drinking window. Guessing it has 10 more years at least, though it's not going to be any better than it is today.
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°°° Bordeaux 1985 °°° (Emmen, Switzerland): Brick color. Nose shows lots of sherry notes and lovage. Nice sweetness, still some juice left but very one dimensional. After 15min this wine falls completely apart. Maybe an off bottle but I am sure the wine is not also fully mature out of good bottles
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Nose: sweet herbs, cherry, blackberry, leather, spices and sweet earth. Classic cos nose. Palate: enters with bright acidity that breaks into cherry, Indian spice, anise and currant. Sweet fruit layers with leather and spice components. Finish: quite long but somewhat one note. No drying, but lacking completeness.
This is a nice cos with all the topicity of the property, but is just held back from greatness.
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This wine continues to hold up very well. This bottle was better than the last bottle I consumed in 2009. Concentrated fruit with soft integrated tannins, long finish. A very nice mature bordeaux with plenty of life left.
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Although the light ruby color tells its age, the 85 Cos is at its sweet spot and drinking very nicely. Red fruits, mineral, spice, earthy elements have all come together, coupling with the smooth mouth feel and still a good grippy touch. The wine will certainly hold up gracefully for many years, a wonderful claret.
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30 years of 1985 Bordeaux at The Papies (The Papies, Elizabeth St, London): Double decanted and left to rest for a good hour till it was served. Good level and cork. Definitely the colour shows its age. Still very healthy. The nose is of a true claret, light dark fruit, peppery and as expected with a nice secondary side too. Cedar notes too. Where it stood out vs the rest of the wines on the day was the mineral side of it, true St Estephe, had a solid firm core and was jus a beauty. May be lacked a bit of finish but this for old school mature claret lovers (and Cos Groupies) like us was a beauty. 93 and drink now.
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Very smoky on the nose. Touch of blackberry with time. Initially quite thin on the palate. Lacking fruit. With time in the air, became a bit more expressive and rounded. A hint of blackberry on the palate later on. Overall not particularly elegant or charming. Solid but not spectacular.
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Dark core with burnished edges. Mature nose of rustic red fruit, cedar with a green pepper note. There's a very elegant earthy note on the palate, rounded red berry fruit, mulled spices and cedar. With moderate acidity, this is a very balanced mature wine.
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Almost 30 years of Bordeaux: Very dark red, no signs of age. In the nose, this is quite linear, a bit monolithic, slightly confected fruit, in particular cherry, some mint, dark, brooding, impressive, but not particularly fine. On the palate, it's also a bit monolithic, slightly angular with prominent acidity and well integrated, but present tannin. Minerally in the long finish. Michael Broadbent calls this wine a "mammoth" in the context of the vintage and I would agree.
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A beautifully aged Bordeaux that offers immense drinking pleasure, which many CT tasters seem to agree on. The attraction begins with the first pour, gorgeous clear ruby color, follows up with aromatics of red fruits, graphite, tobacco leaf, spice and bit of leather, awesome stuff. Medium mouth feel that is pure and clean, fruity notes still remain, plus bitter tea leaf and earth. Tannins are all softened up, and finish is long lasting. This is at its peak and definitely worth trying and enjoy.
Powerful nose of ripe strawberries, hint of chocolate, sandalwood, oriental spices.... taste of pure fresh red cherries, sappy acidity, zero tannins, hint of mokka, typical Cos
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Bordeaux 1985 as main theme (@ Bottles; Sas van Gent, Netherlands): Great to taste this wine again! Beautiful and rustic bouquet with still good mature cassis. On the palate cassis and other dark forest fruits still, earthy flavors, good acidity and tannin with still a good bite. Beautifully balanced and a great length. Mature Bordeaux can be sooo beautiful! Can probably last another 5 years if you are lucky enough to have a perfect bottle.
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1985 Bordeaux dinner (Travelle Chicago): Very impressive showing tonight. Sweet core of red fruit, leather and tobacco. Some vanilla and a creamy texture. A surprise in this lineup.
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Five Decades of Cos D'Estournel with Richard Brazier (Handford Wines, London): Was ranked second after the stellar 1990, and once again a beautiful performance of 1985 vintage. Had a nice sweet core of fruit, well round, silky wine. Very aromatic, classic nose, showing a fair amount of secondary notes, still however with a healthy dose of fruit. This seems to be going strong and performed a lot better than the last time we came across it. 94-95 easy and drink now
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Less herbal on the nose than the 1987, smokey, tobacco, spices , mushrooms - very complex and intriguing nose. A little austere with firm acidity but complex with great balance, very long and harmonious, lovely presence and grip. Drinking perfectly now, but no rush. Exceptional, one of the stars of the tasting. 94-96
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Compelling mature richness in this wine - a superb mouthful. A reminder why old Bordeaux offers so much more than young Bordeaux. The flaw if you will is not a green note as many have noted, it is instead in my view a pimento flavor that runs through the wine.
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Brick in colour with a promising bouquet of truffles, earth and autumn leaves. Silky with fine tannins and bright acidity but lacking the fruit to knit them together under a fine balance. Now past its best but maybe due to this particular bottle, the background of which is uncertain.
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New Year's Eve (In memory of Charlie Trotter) (Eketahuna, New Zealand): Still feels very young - classic cedar new oak. Some green aspects add to the linerality if the wine. Will drink well for years. Classic claret. Herbal, light on its feet and beautifully fragrant. To be critical, it is slightly simple and the fruit feels ever so slightly under ripe but the classic cedar notes add to an exquisite experience. Great to taste a beautiful Cos before they turned towards the very ripe style of today.
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First off, the color on this wine is absolutely glorious - crystal clear ruby red with no signs of bricking. Very rarely do I get excited about a wine's color, but I could not help but hold this up to a light and admire its beauty. The aromas are all that I love about the 1985 vintage. Black tea, wet stones, sweet red fruit, earth, tobacco, mint, and pencil. The nose alone is worth the admission price. The palate is not a blockbuster, unlike, say 1982 or 1990. But it delivers the goods and offers all of the wonders of the nose in a style that any Burgundy lover would appreciate. A gentleman's claret if you will. Completely sorted tannins and a long and clean finish. At peak, well stored bottles should hold for quite some time. 95 Pts
Hard to top this one. Bought on release in '88, stored at 54 degrees throughout. Stunning wine. Everything in harmony: fruit, acid, aromas, tannins. Classic and intoxicating Bordeaux nose. Fabulous concentration. Cedar and cassis notes. Perfect match with fatty steak. Never missed a beat after 2 hours in the glass. Thrilled I have two bottles left.
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Oh my, this bottle was like a gift from the Magi. Decanted for just under 30 minutes before serving. The barest minimum of sediment even after 28 years! The darkest black cherry color with no signs of browning on the edges. A wine that appears to be immortal.
Deep aromas of aromatic spice, clove, earth and cedar. A finish that extends into morning. A magical experience.
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From a bottle purchased on release, this wine had a deep red/purple center with oranging rims. The medium+ intensity nose offerred black cherries, brown spices, clay soil, and blackberries.
In the mouth, this was ripe and rich with lovely balance and impressive length. It had light rounded tannin and nice acidity. However, the overall impression here was of sappy ripe, but still classy fruit.
This will easily last 10-20 years and might even get a bit better. Fortunately, there was no hint of the excess char note I had last bottle. A lovely wine that scored 93 points after 2-3 hours in the decanter and I thought it was done. It firmed up and got better in hour 4 which suggests to me it may even pick up a point in the future.
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A night of Bordeaux as Tom Reddick pays a return visit to NYC. (Le Philosophe.): A little more subdued than the last bottle I had, but a pleasant showing nonetheless. Plenty of tobacco to be had with sweet black cherry fruit, cocoa and spice. There's a softness to the acidity and the oak is apparent, which takes away some vibrancy and focus, but it's tasty. A-/B+.
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Very impressive today. Taken out of the cellar this morning and decanted for just under 2 hours. Brick to the edge and then a colourless meniscus. Hot and sweet when tasted with very good length. One of the best bottles of the case so far. Plenty of fruit still alongside tobacco.
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Opened one of these at noon for dinner. After an 8 hour decant in the cellar, the nose was actually quite nice but then when it warmed up to 18-19 degrees all went very very wrong. Tasted believing a miracle would occur, which obviously did not. Poured the entire bottle in the sink. Sad, just so sad. If you have some, I encourage you to drink up.
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In which I host the Supper Club- Burg, Bordeaux and boeuf Bourguignon. (My place.): The best bottle of this I've ever had. It showed more concentration and depth then I've experienced and was fully integrated. Nice richness to the black fruit, but without being plump or roasted. Nicely earthy with cedar, spice and pleasant herbal notes. The acidity, which sometimes sticks out a bit, was in check, but kept the wine lithe and refreshing. Good stuff. Solid A-.
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From 750, top shoulder fill. Initial mustiness upon opening suggested a wine past its prime. Consumed over a 3 hour period, the wine blew off ut's musty character to reveal a fine mature claret. Fragrant nose and sweet fruit on the palate with adequate acidity. Tannins fully resolved. May hold a few more years, but suggest drinking soon.
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Love the nose on this wine. Strong vanilla, red ripe fruits, leather, sweet tobacco. The palate matched somewhat but was a bit angular and tannic. I think this is on the way down as the structure outpaced the fruit.
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1985 Bordeaux Blind (Berkeley): Group's #3; my #4; 3 first; 2 second; 6 third; 2 last. Aromas and flavors of red fruits, earth, forrest, and cedar. Full-bodied, with a medium and still tannic finish.
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HDH auction tasting at Tru; 6/22/2012-6/23/2012 (Chicago, IL): Very, very peppery nose. Herbal, vegetal, and only a hint of secondary bordelais characteristics. Very dark and brooding, quite concentrated. A little too much of an acidic bent without anything to balance it out. Very smooth tannins.
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Bordeaux Søskenparsmaking (Moss, Norway): Rødbrun. Skogbunn, sopp og mørke bær på nese. Jordlige toner. Tett og relativt stram. Tørre tanniner. Fremstår 5-10 år eldre enn 86 versjonen.
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This did not give me much joy, and even though it may not have been a totally shot bottle, the wine fell apart in the glass, making me put a NR on this.
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Zachys Wine Dinner. Deep purple. Quite herbaceous and burnt cherry nose. Strong cassis palate. Evolving moca-caramel palate. Lost it's tannins quicker than Leoville Barton (20 mins). Long finish. Nice, I'm normally not a fan...
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Rupert's 1985 'Super Seconds' (The Medlar, London): Quite full with some spiciness. Really quite rich but held more in check by a minerality than the LLC. Holds its line. Quite restrained and understated but cooly classy. ?Cos. ****
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What can I say? I'm feeling a bit self-indulgent tonight. I couldn't resist going back to the well so quickly.
This particular bottle was full of leather and tobacco tones. Deep deep Cassis fruit , followed by a long, lingering finish. Some tannins remain, they are a background note. All in all, another wonderful bottle that shows there really is a reward for deferred gratification.
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Earth, tobacco, spice, cassis and cranberry, this medium bodied wine is starting to lose its fruit and charm. Better on the nose than the palate, with a lean, cranberry and cassis finish, this was better a few years ago. I'd drink this now, before it continues dropping fruit.
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A little tight upon opening, after half-an hour it blossomed. While light brown is visible at the very edges, a deep dark color remains. Deep integrated blackberry and cassis flavors. A few sharp angles lurk just below the attack and they beautifully balance the delicious mid palate. I know this sounds a bit pretentious. Deep, long, satisfying finish. Still retains tannins, but they were subdued enough to suggest that current consumption is recommended. Delicious!
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Ruby red, with hardly any bricking at the edge. Decanted and drunk over a two-hour period. Highly aromatic nose of high quality pipe tobacco, flowers, and a touch of band aid. Medium- to full-bodied in the mouth , with copious black cherries, plums and exotic spices that linger on the palate all the way through on the long, lightly tannic finish. A very classy St. Estephe that is at peak, but will hold for another decade. But, given how well it drinks, why wait?
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My last bottle, next to Cos d'Estournel 1986. Fairly complex, herbs, vanilla, twigs and medicine chest in the nose. Medium bodied and elegant on the palate with well delineated layers of earth, tobacco and red fruit. But declining quickly with some time in the glass. Better drink soon.
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From an nice looking bottle, this wine had a deep red/purple center and some orange at the rim. The nose featured black fruits, mocha, and a distinct woodsy/tobacco note that made it a bit off for me. It was almost as if the barrels were a bit too charred.
This wine was a bit tough at first but over the course of 3+ hours it rounded out nicely to show nice forward fruit and subtle rounded tannin. An attractive wine in the mouth. It will be interesting to see if other bottle have the same problem in the nose.
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Opened up and decanted for one hour, and could have used another hour or two. Beautiful color and legs. There was a bit of funk on the nose. Very fruity and soft with earth notes throughout. Still a lot of life here but would recommend several hours of decanting to clear the nose.
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Impressive at first, full of fresh, youthful dark fruited and cassis flavours framed by savoury earthy and tobacco flavours - but with some air it starts to fade a bit as the fruit loses intensity and a faint volatile element emerges.
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A bit of a rushed TN. Wine needs 1hour decanting as the nose only opened towards the end of our dinner. On start the nose is muted but develops nicely into an aged bdx nose fruit, cedary very nice. On the palate it is well round, not lush as the stony st estephe terroir rules here. Will reserve judgement for a better day when we are more focissed. 92-93 and in a good time to drink up
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Kiwi-In-My-Future offline (La Fonda del Sol, NYC): A little tight with good muscle and broad herbal appeal. Hint of sweetness but a bit young. Very well built, friendly and nice. Younger than the last bottle. My #3 WOTN. A-
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Cos d'Estournel vertical (Morton's NYC): Broad, friendly with a sweet and black center. Some acidic tannins. Smooth, round, soft. Fully mature. My #3 WOTN of the night. B+/A-
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Garnet to perhaps dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of Briar patch, tobacco and berries. Flavors of berries, raspberries and cherries. Medium to bright acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink or hold.
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CT Wisconsin Offline (Madison, WI): Lovely mature nose of dark fruit, cedar and hints of leather. Medium bodied, very smooth. This bottle of Cos is at its peak right now and I don't see it getting any better. Drink if you got 'em.
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This a very respactable Cos !! ° But nevertheless it is a bit one dimensional ! I cant help, but after horus of erartion it s i becoming a bit more complex.. it is typical COS ... but no much of the exitement of any GREAT Year ! !!
herbacous, strong, no sign of aging ! but not so much fruit and glycerin like any smooth and sexy YEAR like 2003 and 1990 !°!!
a little of a pitty .. but almost intersting ! ;-) 91/ 10 POSSIBBLE POINTS
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Drank this alongside a Mouton '97. Dark garnet red with slight mahogany tinge, just started to show its age. Beautiful nose, showing leather, cassis, dark fruit and cedar. Subtle and smooth on palate, with tobacco, leather and dark fruits. It has nice balance and good acidity. Long finish and fine tannins. Drinking at its peak now and this elegant wines stood well against the Mouton '97.
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Progressing through the last few of these in the cellar. This one drunk over lunch alongside a 2001 Giacosa Barolo. One wine getting old, one wine definitely too young. There isn't much time left for the 85 Cos, though it's still lovely to drink you can see the brick colour encroaching every further through the wine and an increasing sense of farm rather than fruit.
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This was tasted alongside a Pichon Comtesse 1986. It came off the worst - the Pichon still has fruit and tastes like it has plenty of time ahead of it. The Cos is already brown around the edges and tasting far more of farm - but it's not a bad wine, just one that is nearing the end of its drinking life.
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My Super Bowl wine this year. A nice old bottle of claret. Happy it wasn't ruined. But fairly light-bodied, almost thin. Typical red brick and nose of old shoes. Not complaining about any of that - comes with the ticket. Just not that much there there.
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Occasional tasting group (@ PZ Only Magnums): Again a beautiful bottle with barnyard and smoky impressions and still firm acidity on the palate. Beautiful wine. See also previous notes.
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Hedonistic Diner, Part 2 (Restaurant Le Défi, Sprang-Capelle): My guess was "Old Bordeaux 75?". Suppose that's not a compliment. Colour was pretty deep and lively, but I had some issues with the bouquet, which was rather musty and old. Not very appealing, though no apparent faults. 16/20
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Beautiful and mature bouquet with pleasant barnyard. Also a bit dusty. Nevertheless still very much alive and complex. Although everything is soft and completely ready and the wine will not improve anymore; if you have a properly stored bottle and if you are lucky, the wine will probably offer the same pleasure 5 years from now.
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Smooth drinking and nicely balanced. Good mature fruit on the nose and palate with pencil lead, completely integrated tannins with a good earthy dark fruit finish.
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Tasted as part of Cos d'Estournel vertical with Cincinnati Mondiale du Vin ('82, '85, '96, '00, '05). This wine was alot like the '82, but less so. Brick tinted color. Nose of black cherry and tobacco. Medium palate of blackberry, licorice. Excellent length. Pleasant acidity. Tannins much less in evidence than in the '82. Smooth and silky.
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Post-boards-celebration (Watertown): Mature robe but still deep; nice sous-bois, brambly nose, also meaty and peppery. Very savory palate, nice spice notes. Put on a little weight in the glass and while enjoyable, a bit monolithic even for St. Estephe.
3.5-4/5
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Drank this side by side with a 1984 Insignia from Joseph Phelps. Great pairing. The Cos was big on the nose with a strong classic bell pepper nose. On the palate, it was tough but with a lot of black berry left. Over the course of an evening the wine mellowed and lost some of its hardness, whilst retaining a fprmidable structure. Still drinkng well, but at the end of its plateau.
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A lovely rich, classically styled Bordeaux, with a touch of richness beyond the "normal" Bordeaux. On the nose, the wine is restrained, with a hint of tobacco and earth. On the palate, the richness fills the mouth, with cigar box, tobacco, and flint. The wine is well rounded and fully mature. It has years left, but waiting will not bring additional complexity, in my opinion. The finish is nice and lasts and lasts. A bit two (rather than three) dimensional; still, quite a lovely wine and thoroughly enjoyable with a lovely porterhouse steak for two.
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Tasting Group Dinner - It Was A Great Run (Heidi's, Minneapolis): A nice, foursquare, down-the-middle Cos, and one of the better examples of this wine I've had recently. The nose is big and bloody, leading to a classically structured, red fruit-driven claret palate. Medium-weight flavors of cherries, cedar, and lead pencil, with a supple texture and a moderately long finish.
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Groundhog Day!: Dark red color. Awesome nose featuring red fruit, oak/cedar, coffee and earth. Thrilling. Unfortunately, not quite as good in the mouth; plenty of fruit, nice weight, good balance -- nothing really wrong, just no wow.
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Level well into neck, cork very sound and stained to 1/3 length. Audouzed 3 hours, decanted another hour. Despite all this, seems to be cracking up. You still get that Cos combination of elegance and rusticity, but with nothing lively remaining. Raspberry, strawberry, earth, camphor, creosote show up at various times; finish resonates in sinuses but not elsewhere. Can't speak for other bottles, but this one would have been better consumed 5 or more years ago. Rating reflects obvious pedigree fallen from grace.
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What a beautiful expression of Bordeaux! The wine is fully mature but showing no signs of decline; indeed, it has fully hit its stride. There is a richness to the wine; inviting classic Bordeaux aromas on the nose that just say "come to me." On the palate the wine was layered with excellent complexity. Got this from auction and it was a lovely bottle and great expression of Bordeaux. If you have one, now's the time to have one. And it did go beautifully with that bone in ribeye, too.
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Decanted for 2 hours knowing it would take a least that to bring this wine out. Nose was still not giving much beyond hints dark fruit and cedar. Taste was dark cherry, cedar and some leather. Very limited mid-palate and not much finish. Blink and you miss it. Did not really open even after another hour.
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Great but not quite as enjoyable as the last better of a couple weeks prior. Also this bottle followed '89 Pichon Lalande which was deeper, richer and had more earthy character. None the less the Cos was wonderfully balanced and mature. Best enjoyed after 2hrs decanted.
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Initially closed, meagre small morello cherry taste. After 2 hours in decanter marvellous refined cedar and spice scent, fine medium-long palate, excellent slender balance of sweetness and astringency, very good 93P
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Do you believe in vintage's character ? Cos is not my favorite but whenever I drink the mature one, no wonder....2nd Growth is 2nd Growth. 1985 is clean, the muddy scent is beautiful here, very classic Bordeaux, seductive, earth, mineral. Elegant texture, soft and smooth. Nice finished, fine wine indeed !!! If woman likes this wine, that means....right ?
Drink now - 2015...............91+/100..................
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Nice wine, very balance, no tannis at all,elegant, but need to decant for 2.30 hour, then to the peak, no last very long, need to be finish within 1 hour or less. Finishing is great. The leather nose is very gentle, not like 90's cos, strong leather smell. Took a Les Pagodes de cos 98 at the same time, same family, but lots of difference.
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IWFSC 746th Dinner (Boka): Big full nose of black fruit, cedar, and green pepper. Sour black fruit on the palate - a bit angular - and pale coffee note on the finish.
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Great stuff. All Cos clean dark fruits and tobacco notes. Classic styling. Firm but well balanced tannins. Still young but capable of delivering a lot. Medium body; well balanced. Very nice.
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Big, stinky nose. Probably some Bret, but wonderful anyway. Changed multiple times in the course of a few minutes, with youthful red fruit pushing through the stank. In the mouth it turned into a classic Cos: elegant wonderful structure with a great base of raspberry fruit. However not in your face; a thinking person's wine! Had it along side the '82 Cos, which was much bigger. A great wine, at its peak. If you have it in your cellar, I wouldn't keep it much longer.
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1985 Bordeaux tasting of five wines, fourth place. Lovely, rich, complex nose and taste with a touch of fine medium tannings this afternon, medium finish.
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Mature robe. Tobacco, mineral, oak, forest floor on the nose. Very little primary left. Similar profile on the palate with a bit of black pepper. Medium body, a bit hot. This bottle was surely over the hill, but perhaps it was more advanced than others.
The color was still an impressive dark ruby for a 24 year old bottle. The initial nose was very fruity and floral and wafted out of the glass, but shut down quickly. After that, a subtle forest floor, earthy and fresh rain aroma emerged, but you had to stick your nose into the glass just to get a hint of it. The palate started off acidic with a distinct green apple taste but became more balanced with blackcurrant and potpourri flavors. This medium bodied wine had a smooth feel in the mouth but has an acidic kick on the back end before mellowing into a nice long finish. The fruit is losing some of its complexity, but other indicators show that this still has some life left. We may wait a year or two on the last bottle.
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Notes of earth, leather, cedar. Fruit was somewhat muted but complex, coming over the palate in waves giving way to a long velvety finish. Paired great with grilled filets with hickory-molasses rub. Decanted 45 minutes, wine definitely opened up after another hour or so.
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Classic mature nose of earth, cedar and cigar. Medium bodied on the palate with cherry and raspberry flavors that finish slightly sour. Long finish brings the wine together nicely.
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Cos Vertical @ St Johns- slight lightening around the edges but holding good color to the middle, some sweet dark fruits on the nose with a bit of tar/smoke. very well balanced in the mouth, medium weight still and long finish. i liked this and i thought wine was at a very good place, still showing some nice dark fruit flavor and also nice secondary notes. i think this wine will be good for awhile yet
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I keep thinking this is going to be past its best. Yet again I am wrong. This is probably at its fantastic best at the moment. Wonderful cassis, cherries and cedar on the nose and the gorgeous fusion of black and red fruits, licorice and tobacco all bound by evolved fine tannins. Even some noticeable acidity still evident. This is not as opulent as the 85 Lynch B but still really hedonistic. I love the 85 Bordeaux - I'm really going to miss them when they're gone. I have a feeling the 2005s may be this rounded and fleshy when they're matured. We'll see!
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Oinofiloi Holiday Tasting. Deep red, browing rim. Nose full of tobacco, grass, soil, burnt caramel, bitter chocolate, minerals. Light-medium body. Perfect tannins but acidity still bright. Peppery palate offset by a sweet edge.. Lovely, straightfoward, understated Left Bank power.
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A wonderful, hedonistic wine drinking perfectly right now. The ample fruit comes in waves and the soft, integrated tannins provide just enough support. Not as interesting as an '82 Montrose drunk recently but still quite nice.
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Beautiful bouquet with ripe cassis and pleasant barnyard. The tannin is round and soft, but still powerful. Good bitterness. Full bodied, almost fat, and also so elegant. Perfect drinking moment. Great wine!
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12.5%. Good fill and bottle was in pristine condition. First pour into our glasses and the rest into a decanter. Mohagany translucent colour. The nose is wow!!! Very open, velvety, rich berries, herbs, earth, cigar box...........on the palate, fruits still are alive with familiar tobacco, earth, leathery notes and harmonious sweetness. The tannins are well resolved. Very clean and polished. Well balanced with great finnese. Great finish. A classic mature bordeaux. Absolutely "at point" to drink now. The nose and finish is still lingering as I typed this note..........
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Ripe and spicy fruit, tobacco and charcoal too, vibrant - youthful and vigorous - the eighth bottle from a case bought on release, this was its best showing yet, indeed the first time it's been exciting
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One of two clarets chosen to watch the Champions League final with (the other being the Palmer 89). This was opened, decanted and drunk immediately as many reports seem to conclude that this wine is over the top. It's not, it was beautifully mature with a great balance of spice, tobacco and black fruits. As this was being drunk the game was in the first half and United were ahead - bad news. But then the Palmer.....
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Nose: Saddle and spice notes came to mind first. Then waves of fruit and floral layered in a seductive approach. Anise and allspice made an appearance as well. I was amazed at how a nose could appear layered and complex. Really beautiful. Later on discerned some poblano pepper notes along with some earthy pings and mushroom notes.
Taste: Spice component on the tonsils; well integrated tannin (however the tannins are still hanging on so it shows more room for aging). Lot's of toasty oak vanillins. Just a great and impressive wine.
Overall: Outstanding - 94 Points.
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Kdawg's Birthday 80's Bordeaux dinner (Cotes Du Rhone, Chicago, IL): Mature. Nose of creamy red fruit, sweet milk chocolate with a slight oak and mushroom sent. Oak and earthy in the mouth with a cherries and raspberries on the palate. The wine has no hard edges and was the smoothest so far of the night. After a while in the glass it took on a moldy wet basement character that was nice. Structurally the best so far.
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80s Bordeaux Birthday dinner (Cotes Du Rhone Bistro(Chicago, IL)): nose: very velvety and layered nose with rounded edges of barnyard, herbs, various peppers, creamy red fruit and mushroom tones. This velevty nose is what I expected from an 85 with that elegance and class that you'd want from it
taste: really velvety with a great red fruit core along with mushrooms, soy sauce, and varied pepper tones
overall: something tells me that this is easily what the beautiful 04 can turn into. There is that great exotice quality that I have come to expect from Cos along with a great aged sexiness that this bottle brings. Nice lush attack and mid palate feel that leans into a beautiful and round finish of herbs and currants
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En accompagnement d'un agneau pascal et familial. Ouvert et carafé deux heures avant,mais sans doute servi un peu trop frais. Nous sommes tous surpris par la jeunesse de ce vin. Nez sur les épices, le graphite, les fruits noirs, un peu d'herbe coupée. Bouche très droite, un peu sévère, grande longueur. Une très belle bouteille, qui avait encore un longue vie potentielle devant elle.
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Drunk at Oak with lots of clarets and steaks...decanted approx2 hours, lighter color, red fruit nose with a little woody cedar. smooth into the mouth , very round and well balanced mix. still showing red fruits but evolving. med finish, have had several bottles of this over last 18mos and still seems like a great value aged claret
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Degrezia, NYC (NYC): This 85 Cos exhibited more complexity than the 82 that I drank the week before at Panache in Ramsey, NJ. The wine gathered more nuance and character during the hour we leisurely drank it.The scent of black cherries wafted from the glass. The 85 had all the color purple of the 82 and then some.Tobacco, spice, and earth saturated this lovely scented and delicious wine. A classic Bordeaux on this evening.
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Fully mature and not grossly falling apart, but I was disappointed by the lack of nose and complexity. Certainly not as good as a bottle a year ago from the same original case.
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Chateau Cos d'Estournel vertical (IOD, London): Brown, strange marmitey oxidising nose, light and indistinct - losing it. It's a couple of years since I last had one of these, but I'm pretty sure this was an unrepresentative bottle.
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Nice bottle. Good richness and still showing plenty of life. Very nice spice box notes, and sweet candied character. Tobacco and leather notes with a touch of apple skin. Earth and soil notes. Very clean and polished but complex. Very introspective and thought provoking wine. Enjoyable. Drank from a magnum.
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Bordeaux at Per Gørans house (Stamerbakken, Bergen, Norway): Fruity nose with plums and black currant. Delicious. The most primary nose of the flight, but also the most complex. A bit sweeter than the two others. On the palate it is fantastic. Fruity, great balance. In great shape and drinking very good now.
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Learning about Bordeaux with the Astorettes; 10/8/2007-10/10/2008 (Cafe Loup): This opens very herbaceously with a gentle touch of cotton candy, a bit of peppery spice and subtle oak. In the mouth it offers up a gently aged sweetness balanced by good acidity with no tannin to speak of. The midpalate is a touch diffuse at first but this ultimately grows on you with it's layered delicacy and gentle nature. At peak or maybe in gentle decline. 2007-2011
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Sunday Dinner @ The Oak (Notting Hill, London) dark color but very clean...a little barney on the nose but still aromas of dark fruit, very smooth in the mouth , well balanced and a nice mix of primary and secondary flavors. long finish...i think this wine can go for 5-7 more years
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Deep, powerful aromas of cassis, meat and earth. To taste a rather beefy wine, packs some power, and quite a tarry quality - still too young? Impressive wine with years of life left but in a big, slightly rustic style that is not a particular favourite.
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The Wine Summit 2007: Château Cos d'Estournel - Saturday, June 2, 2007 - afternoon: deep mahogany colour – wide amber/caramel rim; broad mix of roasted nuts – tobacco – spice – chocolate caramel and dark berry fruit coming through in the bouquet; warm, black currant jam in the flavours; excellent balance, although the tannins do show in the fruit driven finish. This was much better at dinner on Saturday – seemed more harmonious – felt the frame held the fruit better. Partnered with Jurassie, Vigneron and Marbier cheeses it proved to be another outstanding pairing.
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20 minute decant, no formal notes. Very nice but not a knockout wine. Well balanced on the nose and palate, still some structure left but tannins are fairly well resolved. Supple and classic in the mouth, probably best to drink the rest over the next 5-8 years. I'd very happily drink this any time.
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Had 2 bottles of this after a Chianti Tasting at Dans house. I took no formal notes so this TN is by memory. The corks were in perfect shape. This was a decant and pour, little sediment, great color for a 22yr old wine with only the very slightest fading on the rim, the nose was all classic Bordeaux, medium bodied with very nice fruit, this drank like pure silk, as elegant as a wine can be however it lacked any real excitement, very lovely finish, a true lady. 90.
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Full bodied, very dark, with even some purple in the overall carmine colour. Very complex nose, with horse stable scents. Power, but so beautiful. It lacks subtlety, but I love this wine.
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Blind 1985 Bordeaux vs. CA (Cabernet) Tasting (Chicago IL): Blind 85 Bordeaux vs. CA tasting. Bright black fruit on nose. Still fresh and charming, this bottle was entirely fruit-driven today. Tannin niceyl integrated, good energy, but there didn't seem to be much interesting nuance to this wine tonight.
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Medium red/purple with forward aroma of clove and anise and red fruit with a hint of briar. Medium bodied w/good red fruit and a spicy finish. Also shades of pencil lead and anise. Very good. 93 points 2/02 From memory - rich deep dark purple. Nice aroma of graphite and blackcurrant. Rich on the palate. Still drinking very well with a long life ahead. may have picked up a point or so ? 4/05 Full red. Awesome nose of briar red fruit and pencil lead. Lovely rich ripe black fruit. Still a bit tight. 93-94 pts. 1/06
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Tasting. Shows nice balance between primary and secondary flavors. Good structure and acidity provides an excellent backbone. Not the most intense fruit remaining but works well with everything else in the wine. Good energy on finish shows off fruit and spice well.
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Opened 3 hours before drinking and left in the bottle, with no decanting (the techgnique recommended by Francois). The nose and the taste were of concentrated black and red fruits, a mixture of fresh and stewed. Very thick, almost inky in texture, with noticable spice, and without the characteristic Cos earth. Deep extended finish, qith good complexity. A lovely wine, but I never would have guessed it was Cos. Perhaps typical for very ripe vintages?
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Several hours in the decanter. A beautiful, voluptuous wine, with great structure, firm but soft tannins, balanced acidity and good fruit. This wine has a long life ahead of it. Thick and viscous, with a black core and some brick on the rim. An awesome mouthful of wine, with cedary, lead pencil and red berry tones. With time, the wine became more jammy and showed some stewed fruit. Delicious.
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Popped and poured. Bright ruby with some bricking on the edge. Nose of minerals, lead pencil, and red berries. Medium bodied with minerals and cassis on the palate. Fully resolved tannins but still some nice structure. Purchased on release. 6th and last bottle. This wine always drank well. Slipping? Maybe, but still a nice wine IMO.
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This elegantly styled wine offers a lot of charm. Plums, tobacco, Asian spice and forest floor aromas tempt you. Light in style and fully mature, it's a softer style of COS.
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Wine tasting. Big black fruit on nose and palate. Fruit flavors seem somewhat obscured today by the wine's big and burly tannins, which give a harshness on the finish, almost a sense of bitterness. Perhaps this just needs time, I'd give any more bottles until 2010 or later.
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Tasting of four 1985 Bordeaux blind, second place, nose of earth, baking chocolate, cedar, leather, and a touch of sweatsox, very round, rich fruit on the palate, inky tasting, lovely supple fruit, great medium/long finish with high acid and small amount of soft tannins suggest three years ageing will improve the score.
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(RC 93) Very refined and polished - a robust nose filled with ripe blackberry and current. This is a deep and complex wine that has a long and chewy aftertaste.
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Deep Ruby color, ripe fruit nose with mineral elements, mouthfilling fruit with strong mineral rusty accent, very typical for st estephe and the vintage. At its peak now
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Cos d'Estournel 1985 - This was an exceptional showing for this bottle. The wine seems to be at its plateau of maturity. still vibrant and fruity but with great complexity and length. lots of cedar and tobacco. great curranty fruit. highly complex. for me, close to perfect. 98pnts
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dark red, nose of earthy forest floor, cassis, opens over an hour to show chocolate, mocha, coffee, brighter fruit but less deep than the '85 Dominus, nice finish
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With J for 30th birthday at Roxborough Bistro - essence of cabernet sauvignon/bordeaux. Hold next bottle till 1998. Compleetly unevolved - but still forward, fragrant and superb.
Every other bottle drunk until 2009 has been astonishing - I wish I had more of these!
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Nearly identical notes for this and the 1986 vintage. !986 was a little deeper and has more aging potential, but I rate both wines at 95. Very deep purple color, nose of ripe blackberries/blueberry. Extremely ripe and fruity!! Terrific (both vintages) with grilled filet mignon and twice baked potatoes. Not enough superlatives to describe how wonderful these wines are/were. Great finish with long lasting aftertaste!!
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At home at dinner with K, Miranda, Cynthia, Steve, Kay, Laird, and Jack (roast). Gorgeous very dark ruby color. Complex nose of dark chocolate and roast coffee. Very feminine and "Bordeaux"-like, initially especially. Pretty wine on the palate, still with some bitter tannin in the finish, but has definitely come around and is nearing its peak of drinkability. Fine wine. 5-11-16-8: 90/100.
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dark purple color, good legs, intense fruity nose with scents of berries, leather, maybe a hint of chocolate, ripe lush fruity taste with soft tannins, hint of leather carried throught to the palate, long smooth finish, one of the best wines I've ever h
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With K and Miranda at home at dinner (pizza). Attractive dark ruby color. Has legs. Nose is nice. Has a "roasted" character. Rich, smoky, ripe fruit. More aromatic than in previous tastings, so far as I recall. Flavors are a tad restrained and closed, but it is a big wine, well-balanced and quite tannic still. Long. Rough and coarse at the finish, though. Quite a disappointment after all I have heard and read about this wine. 5-11-15-7: 88/100.
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With BLR at home skipping work. Good dark ruby color, all the way to the rim. Good coffee nose. On the palate, very nice, much more forthcoming than the nose. Nice, with an extraordinarily long and complex finish. Excellent bottle, in need of time. 5-10-17-8: 90/100.
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At home. Medium dark ruby. Fine color. Good depth. Nose shows loads of fruit. Concentrated. Actually smells of merlot. Absolutely fabulous palate, very, very complex and concentrated, with just layers and layers of flavors. Gorgeous blackberry fruit. Long and lasting. A very nice wine. Lives up to its reputation. 5-11-17-8: 91/100.
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LICORICE AND LEATHER IN THE NOSE THOUGH MORE PRONOUNCED THAN THE '83. BLACK CHERRY FLAVORS, NICE COMPLEXITY. CONTINUALLY IMPROVED BUT CLEARLY NEEDS AT LEAST 5 YEARS TO REACH ITS PEAK. LONG FINISH
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With K at home at dinner. Dark ruby-purple, very attractive. Nose shows great potential, still largely closed. On the palate, very great. Extremely deep and concentrated, with blackcurrants and oak much in evidence. Incredible length, it goes on an on. Ripe, deep, and complex. Still not ready. 5-11-18-9: 93/100.
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1/26/2024 - Philip_Bundpropperne Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rating: 4,3/5,0.
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12/31/2023 - Roland67 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Given the age, this was surprisingly fresh and fully alive. Stand A in the bottle, but cork 85-90% soaked, so maybe good that it was opened today. In the nose a lot of forest soil notes, forest moss, and pine. On the pale a soft texture and surprisingly fresh minerality. Very, very enjoyable. It stayed alive in the glass for hours throughout the evening. Enjoyed along with a 1999 Cheval Blanc and yet both where great wines, the Estournel took the price. P95+
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12/23/2023 - klatner@stillcloud.ch wrote:
Yes 👍🏻
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11/18/2023 - Snowey Likes this wine:
Josh (who we met at burgundy fest) brought this over to the wine industry dinner. I felt like this developed the mevushal pruniness flavors more than the light weight complex acid flavors Bordeaux sometimes develops into.
Very interesting wine that was enjoyable and everyone else loved it.
Privilege to have had a 38 year old wine!
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11/18/2023 - macmac007 Likes this wine: 94 Points
A groovy Danish record biz guy brought a bottle of this to dinner. What a treat. No decant required. Took about half an hour to open in the glass and then lift-off.
When a wine is this old and well-stored, all the elements become integrated and bedded down. No rough edges. Just silky, unctuous fully mature texture and flavor. This wasn't a powerhouse year, so more feline and enigmatic than other star name Bordeaux Cabs, but Cos makes it that way too by design: the ~30% Merlot softens the red brick Cab core without giving up the long-term complexity.
The signature element of Cos for me, possibly its unique characteristic, are the echoes of far east spicebox, the hints of cinnamon, cedar, mint leaf... Deliciously hard to pin down as you chase the flavors round your mouth before it ends with a backwash of classic Bordeaux earthiness.
Here's the offical Cos website waxing lyrical on this exotic quality: "Little by little, it evokes stories of distant places, market stalls brimming with unfamiliar fruits, spices and wares, village festivities warmed by the joy of revelers and the setting sun, and sumptuous visions of ladies and their voluptuous curves."
Mille et une nuits (Arabe) in a glass!
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11/14/2023 - luHar1423 Likes this wine: 96 Points
The 1985 vintage is the winner of the 5-step Cos d'Estournel vertical non-blind tasting. Mouthwatering dark berry notes on the nose as well as palate held over 2h - very long and intense finish. Tannins and acidity are well integrated but not dominant at all - very smooth and enjoyable. Reminded me rather of a big Pauillac than a St. Estephe. Fantastic. Don't spoil your palate with any food or side disturbances - enjoy it straight in a perfect wine glass.
Best of all: it still has enough power to survive a mere five years plus in your cellar: hats off to all the owners.
Double-decanting 3h before - slightly overpriced imho ($350+ vs. 1989 Pichon Baron for instance).
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10/20/2023 - Isaac L Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bordeaux 1985 Grand Tour; 5/5/2017-10/20/2023: Prominent nose with earthy/woody notes. Cassis, cherries, dried plums, cedar, camphor, menthol and herbs. Medium to full bodied with good concentration. Softly textured. Tannins were still present but well integrated. Cork was protruding by a couple of mm and crumbled upon extraction but no issues with the wine otherwise. In a very good place at the moment and will hold for a couple of years but unlikely to improve further.
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9/29/2023 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 94 Points
Medium-dark garnet in color with slight clearing at the edges. Full, forward & attractive nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blackberries, & cassis with classic overtones of cigar box notes of cedar & tobacco, leather, floral notes of violets, herbs, mushrooms, minerals & earthy/dusty notes. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & silky smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, blackberries & blueberries with herbs, mushrooms, minerals & a slight hint of oak. Lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & airing. At 38 years of age, I doubt any substantial development would occur from additional aging. Fill was at lower neck; cork was saturated midpoint but intact. An outstanding Cos.
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7/3/2023 - paulst Likes this wine: 95 Points
Cedar and earth with blackberry; long complex finish.
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5/28/2023 - Matt T wrote: 93 Points
Evidence of leakage and possible heat damage, but a nice dark color. Very reticent for the first half hour and then this started to unfold with burly tannins, tobacco, and dark fruit (in that order). Tannins seemed to integrate on day two and this presented as a bit smoother, but the fruit also receded a note. Overall, this is very big and very structured. This may last another 10-15 years, but seems unlikely to improve.
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5/25/2023 - funderwood10 wrote: 87 Points
Still got strong tannins and got quite strong primary notes for a close to 40 yr old. Finish is pretty short though and unfortunately the tannins leave a bit of a harsh finish. I’m afraid this wine is quite on the decline. Perhaps in 5 yrs the tannins might melt away further and be more rounded but I just don’t see much potential left here.
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5/21/2023 - djhammond Likes this wine: 93 Points
Second of three bottles, this was not quite matching the previous one, but some variation is to be expected with older wines. Cherry and tobacco are aromatic on the nose with additional menthol notes. Secondary characteristics have developed on the palate with tertiary hints. Showing good depth and balance, this bottle was showing harsher tannic notes as previously. That said, it is highly recommended, and relatively good value for money.
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5/14/2023 - Charlie Carnes Likes this wine: 95 Points
Question: Does a wine need 100 points to be perfect? Emphatically: no! This wine was such a terrific wine to drink with my family tonight. When I first opened this baby, it was a little crusty, grumpy, so I let it breathe in the decanter for about an hour. Wow, did this wine just go from solid to gas!! It had that 1985 loveliness combined with a little rusticity… I mean there was iron, and rustic mineral, combined with dark black and darkest red cherry, an absolute throwback. Enhancing the dark fruit and mineral, green and ripe tobacco leaf, perceptions of loamy earth, soil, and red clay, river gravel, maybe a hint of navel orange, and even a little bit of a floral component at the end. The wine was just so not too big, not too ripe, and this combined so nicely with elegance/rusticity combination, that made a gorgeous, perfect wine begging for food and great family time! I love 1985…
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5/6/2023 - BernieMSY Likes this wine: 95 Points
The cork was in remarkably good shape when pulled.
Extremely dark garnet color with some bricking at the edges. Earthy nose, full of loam and mushroom.
Popped, poured and sampled over a few hours. Upon opening: Richly deep flavor profile. Concentrated hard candy and dried currant up front, with savory notes of tobacco and leather on the mid-palate. Great mouthfeel, smoothly silky with very soft tannins remaining.
Three hours later: it’s all savory notes at this point, spice box and cedar, with a slightly overripe raisinated tone. Actually quite delicious.
Another hour later: it becoming more concentrated and complex. Lots of extraction, and the finish goes on forever.
I suppose it all depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for lush fruity tones, then this one is over the hill from your point of view. On the other hand, if you’re looking for racy, spicy, savory notes, this one is in a sweet spot. For me, it may be a few years past its prime, but it’s been really fun to follow its maturational trajectory. I’ve got another bottle or two stashed away somewhere. I’ll report back in a few years.
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4/11/2023 - vindictive wrote:
Perhaps due to colder storage, this bottle seemed much younger than prior bottles. It needed several hours in the decanter before opening up and even then was not ready. Classic St. Estephe wine, very structured and good with lamb.
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2/23/2023 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 97 Points
Incredible nose the punctuated the air upon opening, mushrooms, earthy, all the qualities of a great Bordeaux and a great btl. Drink to enjoy or hold for its 40th anniversary.
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2/14/2023 - Papies wrote: 90 Points
The Inaugural Paris Wine Event (Papies at Passy, Paris): Opened and left to rest . Chose not to decant as wine had a fragility to it.
This is the fifth time we try this in the last decade or so ( Papies 92-94) and frankly the wine was below expectations albeit we felt this is more a specific bottle issue than the wine it self. So a bit flat, lacking a sparkle that 1985 usually has, lacking energy in a way and the fruit was on the muted to dull side. That being said the wine was healthy and no TCA was detected and had a solid cork and in neck level. Enjoyable ? Yes but lacking the magic that other 1985s have at this stage. 90 on this occasion and maybe better one tries these sooner than later.
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2/2/2023 - Vinumming & Ahhing Likes this wine: 93 Points
1985 Bordeaux Horizontal - London (Noizé, London): This is the most youthful of the wines we've tried tonight. The nose has a lovely brandy snap character that complements a core of cool dark fruits, the gingerbread and the dark chocolate. This also feels very together and a little aloof as its rival Montrose can also be. Had the palate delivered on the promise of the nose I would have scored more highly but the palate is tight and doesn't give much away at this stage. Needs another 5 year at least to my mind. Great promise, mind.
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1/16/2023 - Tao wrote: 92 Points
Earthy nose of leathery black fruits along with a hint of peppermint, a touch of spice! Refreshing palate of again, leathery fruits, a hint of smokiness, graphite, and meaty texture! It is, in my opinion, to pair it with lamb or duck dishes, with friends of course! Dark in colour and certainly with a few more years to go at the very least!
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12/12/2022 - djhammond Likes this wine: 94 Points
I am beginning to convert to 1985 as a vintage, which unfortunately is overshadowed by being sandwiched between 2 of Bordeaux's most legendary years, and this did not disappoint. Fully mature, this however still needs 3 hours in the decanter to fully blossom. The nose is rich with cherry and tobacco with faint wafts of menthol. The palate is earthy but with the cherry prominent and is perfectly balanced. The finish is excellent and pushes past 30 seconds and displays surprising tannic grip. This is showing secondary and tertiary notes and there is no reason for not enjoying this now as it has hit its drinking plateau.
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11/20/2022 - ElAzul Likes this wine: 96 Points
The cork slid into the bottle but the wine was still excellent. This is elegance personified and my favorite Cos , even more than the 90. Loamy and earthy nose tinged with tobacco gives way to a still remarkably silky and elegant mouth feel yet backed by a nice acid backbone. Dark fruit predominates but a teasing raspberry note appeared after four hours opened and decanted. The sweet fruit finish is subtle but lasts 30 seconds. Love this wine. I bought it in the mid 90s from a wine store going out of business so the providence before I stored it in my cellar is unknown.
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10/26/2022 - paulst Likes this wine: 95 Points
Youthful; robust sweet blackberry; concentrated; coarse; sweet tannic fruity finish.
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10/18/2022 - paulst Likes this wine: 95 Points
Light earthy tobacco and blackberry; elegant and balanced; smooth soft tannin; long elegant cedar raspberry finish.
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10/5/2022 - Charlie Carnes Likes this wine: 97 Points
Oh my goodness, this was so exceptional! I love when Cos shows its black fruit, green and ripe tobacco, earth and soil tones, combined with what I can only call elegance from 1985. This was such a terrific wine, and the reason to buy, and save wines to drink much later in their lives! I’m reminded when I drink this wine of river rocks, reminiscent of Graves, and lovely spice more than you would think of the Christmas/bakery type. This wine drinks so easily get it has plenty of backbone. It prompted me to order four more bottles that I found in Europe, I found mine forever. I hope the provenance is as good…
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9/4/2022 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Drinking just great right from the get-go. It was opened and decanted and there's a strong masculine style to this. Almost a bit musky. Very vibrant and strong and I think just excellent. Made the Montrose seem a bit muted in comparison.
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8/21/2022 - Tgood wrote: 93 Points
Dark more black than the ruby at rim. Restrained nose of earthy stuff - gravel and organic soil notes - eclipsed by domineering cocoa and espresso impressions. Thick rich dense concentrated and lengthy palate- tannins remain lively in presence but not abundant. Nice bitter moka finish.
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8/7/2022 - RockinCabs wrote: 94 Points
Nose: Elegant perfumed nose of graphite, tobacco, cherry, plum, cocoa and loamy earth. Just a bit of a cherry tobacco element and bits of vegetal notes at the edges.
Palate: This is a regal wine on the palate that shows its breeding. Silky palate feel with just a bit of tannin. Plum, loamy earth, graphite and pencil notes. Tobacco, vegetable garden and so much complexity.
Finish: There is a surprising amount of tannin that grips your lower gums as this finishes. Great stuffing for the tertiary phases of this wine's life.
This is my 2,000th note on cellartracker and a mighty fine wine to pluck from the cellar for the occasion.
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5/30/2022 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Fully developed, the nose, with its spice box, tobacco leaf, forest floor, and cigar wrapper calls your name. Medium-bodied, fresh, vibrant, round, and packed with dark currants and red plums, this is ready to go. If you have a bottle, there is no reason to hold this any longer. It will not improve.
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3/2/2022 - carl.cornaglia@gmai.com Does not like this wine: 89 Points
This wine is fading and should be consumed sooner than later. At a tasting of 12 bottles of Cos 1961 to 2010. Enjoyable, but not in the top wines of this tasting.
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2/16/2022 - Wineisfordrinking wrote: 95 Points
From a perfect bottle held since release. This bottle was all closed up (I think my storage is too cold!) we had a glass and decided to wait 24 hours (lightly corked) which was the right call. After a day it was just delicious, almost tasted a little sweet. Long finish, perfect balance, beautiful in every way. Love Cos, at its best, like this.
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1/9/2022 - heegaard Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great wine. Still a perfect wine.
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12/25/2021 - daniei wrote: flawed
Real shame - this is my favorite wine of late. Slight sweet cork/maderized nose. Certainly drinkable and our company enjoyed it but not a representation of other current spectacular bottles.
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12/15/2021 - jlgnml Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Corked.
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10/17/2021 - blanquito wrote:
Starts out a little dry, a little flat, but soon cruises into an enviable position half way through the first glass. Shows a lot like other 85s displaying lots of red-fruited appeal and aromatic intrigue. Some firm, ferric tannins reveal the wine’s identity and St Estephe origins. Tasty, tertiary, old school. A-
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9/9/2021 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Epic Bordeaux for an Epic Birthday!; 9/1/2021-9/12/2021 (Paris & Bordeaux): Wow - drinking really nicely. This is in just the right window and was my WOTN. It’s a bit more earth and forest than it is fruit but that’s ok because there’s still that wonderful vibrancy of a great wine. Just in a great spot.
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8/15/2021 - oleksarewa Likes this wine: 95 Points
A beautiful Bordeaux. Fantastic dark colour, and an almost floral nose that opened up after a few hours. Much depth on the palate, with good minerality. Very nice!
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5/30/2021 - Nanda wrote: 92 Points
A monstrous nose of cigar box, ash, smoke and dried bell pepper. Fully resolved on the palate with plenty of remaining richness. Nicely complex throughout.
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5/30/2021 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points
A 65th Birthday Celebration, Slightly COVID Delayed (EL Ideas - Chicago IL): Late night, small glass, brief note. Dense, powerful and displaying good+ weight, but I found it slightly coarse. A wine that has never thrilled me.
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5/29/2021 - frenchiecagowine wrote: 86 Points
Disappointment of the night, didn't live up to the expectations. The wine didn't have the complexity, finesse and incredible fragrance I tasted in another vintage. Not a bad wine but just underwhelming. On the nose, loads of eucalyptus/menthol and not much else. On the palate, dense but it felt somewhat heavy and clumsy and fruit was gone. This wine felt muted...at nearly 36 years of age.
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5/20/2021 - Thoughtful Likes this wine: 92 Points
Stored in a cold cellar since release. Brick red colour. Restrained cedar, leather bouquet. Surprised by acidity. Tannins resolved. Medium. Good length and depth. Some complexity. Seems to be two choices drink soon or for those with a decade or two in hand a possibility of something rather special.
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5/5/2021 - Mascarello59 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Light red almost translucent. Weak aromas initially but it builds up to show raspberry, red fruit, tobacco, cigar. Complex nose.
Taste of dark fruit over fine tannin. Very vital with very nice balance and a balanced finish. Great wine!
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11/27/2020 - pbaek wrote:
The dark master. Roasted and rich with notes of coffee and dark fruit. Somewhat hard around the edges. Nonetheless, this is a great wine full of character and complexity.
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10/30/2020 - NoTrollingerPlease Likes this wine: 92 Points
Best bottle (Restaurant Brunnenstube, Beinstein): Tasted blind. Clear, deep garnet color. Clean nose with some lovage, fine oak, tobacco and leather. On the palate high acidity, lots of dark fruit, tannin is a bit rough. Wine still seems youthful. Finish is medium-long. Lacks a bit of depth and complexity for a great Bordeaux, but it is great to see, how this wine can age. 92-93
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10/29/2020 - PJRONeill wrote: 92 Points
A proper bottle, finally, exhibiting all the nuance, charm and depth of the vintage. Previous bottles (from the same case) have been a little underwhelming but this reminded me why ‘85 was the vintage of Cos that I preferred at a Kevin Zraly tasting of the chateau many years ago.
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10/3/2020 - GrapeScott wrote: 88 Points
I hope this is not a representative bottle because it is probably the most disappointing Cos I’ve tasted. Cork looked bad, saturated and loose when I inserted the screwpull part of the Durand. Still, the fill was good (base neck) and the color is excellent, Though on the palate there are hints of some madeirization. Nose shows cedar, cigar box, dried cherry and hints of mint. Palate is a bit thin on the fruit with a solid wall of tannins and medium+ acidity. Not bad, but not good for this estate. Blown out of the water by the ‘85 Haut Bages Liberal we had the other night.
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7/19/2020 - beatles wrote: 93 Points
I guessed St Estephe from 1988 - close, but still - this is is a wonderful example of a classical Bordeaux-wine, vertical, manly, dry, yet plenty of fruit left here. Tannins seems fully integrated, it's drinking a point now - probably in the late part of the drinking window. Tobacco, lead pencil, black berries galore - a wine from the Old World. Thanks, HSA, for bringing this.
#Kandestederne#H&M#BB
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7/2/2020 - nywine68 wrote: 94 Points
Fully mature. Brick color. Quintessential tertiary Bordeaux flavors. Lots of mushrooms, smoke and earth all kept in balance by sufficient acidity. The Cabernet shines through in this wine, giving it a robust profile. Superfine tannins keep it all together. Delicious.
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3/14/2020 - AudunG wrote: 91 Points
Mature and a bit sweet Medoc aromas, with minerals, flowers and leather. The earlier coffee aromas have disappeared, like they were in a bottle two years ago. A bit rustique, but also soft. The massive mouth feeling typical for St. Estephe is not there any more.
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2/18/2020 - walkerjfw wrote: 92 Points
5th Annual PNV Kick Lunch...didnt get notes on all the wines...w Tom/Jay/Jamie/Todd/Jeff/Tor/Greg (Farmstead, St. Helena, CA): One of my contributions for the lunch, this wine was fantastic at this lunch 2 years prior...good excuse to trot it out again.
Notes from 18:"Color was a faded purple/garnet, bricking at the edge. Nose of dusted dark berries, minerals and floral notes.. Elegant, mature palate showing black cherry, cassis, mineral, cigar, forest floor and violet. Smooth texture, medium bodied and long (for this age) finish."
Picked up a bit more chalk and mineral with this bottle (from memory). Drank well and did not fade over the course of 3 hours. I wrote that its past its peak a couple years ago - which while true the wine is not fading based on this bottle. Will probably drink last bottle in next 2 years - classic Bdx!
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1/18/2020 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 93 Points
Initially a bit funky, after ninety minutes the fruit emerged, the color seemed to clear up and it opened up to show true St Estephe Cos character.
The foil and label are like new, the cork was intact with the lower quarter starting to saturate.
Garnet colored with a slight tinge of brown rust bricking, medium full bodied, complex, concentrated, rich black berry and black cherry fruits with notes of leather, tobacco, coffee, herbs, spice and hints of cedar with lush tannins and crisp acidity on a long aromatic finish.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2020/01/family-celebration-dinner-features.html
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12/29/2019 - IAmVintage wrote: 92 Points
Last 2 bottles. 1 perfect, 1 not-so-perfect as lightly (?) corked & ignored here.
Good one: Filtered, decanted, rested 30 min & served @61F. Black fruit fading to cigar/tobacco & spice, fully resolved tannins, chocolate powder (dusty?) mid-palate and a leathery finish. This was an excellent example of why there's [uniquely] nothing quite like a good well aged Bordeaux. Great with mushroom/onion stuffed beef tenderloin.
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12/28/2019 - jdlee1232 wrote: 92 Points
Perhaps a little past its prime but still showing a complex nose and powerful finish
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12/2/2019 - vvWine.ch Likes this wine: 92 Points
1985, Château Cos d’Estournel, Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, Frankreich. Mittleres Rubin, Reifentöne. In der Nase offen und wunderbar duftig mit Zedernholz, Tabak, Gewürzen, Kräutern. Im Gaumen weich und zugänglich, mittlerer Körper, sehr feines, abgeschmolzenes Tannin, die Frucht wirkt warm und reif, im Abgang mit viel Würze. Ein reifer Cos, der aktuell viel Trinkspass bietet und sein Plateau noch einige Jahre halten dürfte. Bis 2026 geniessen. 18.5 vvPunkte (92/100) vvWine.ch
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11/5/2019 - pilot360 wrote:
Opened and poured in decanter - Heavy notes of dates, chalk, mint for the first hour or so.
This wine opened up to a beautiful bright structured cherry and tobacco driven claret.
Was a spontaneous open and decant, opened for a non wine friend. He was amazed by the transformation of this wine over 2 hours.
From a .375
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8/23/2019 - RayOB wrote: 93 Points
Drank at 67
Very open and beautiful. Rich complex palate.
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8/18/2019 - SommStags wrote:
From 5L: At first I was worried this was a little green, but that seemed to change as the wine opened up. So much going on in the glass that seemed to only improve with air. Due to this format, I would believe the wine could have lasted another 10-15 years no problem. Fun wine that was very pleasurable.
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4/7/2019 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Pnp.
Light bricking at the edge, garnet core.
Getting mostly blueberry, dried herbs, woody aromas and a touch of Asian spice on the nose. It’s not overly expressive.
The palate is silky as it gets. Tannins fully integrated. A bbq saucy/spicy element carries over from the nose to the palate. Leaning more savory but still totally enjoyable. Acidity is present but not overtaking.
I’d say this has another few years left but it’s time to drink up.
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3/9/2019 - walkerjfw wrote: 93 Points
Dinner with Heather and Eric - great excuse to open some fantastic wine.... (Chez Walker - Princeton, NJ): Recent tasting of this have been superb, a good choice for a dinner with special friends. Decanted for about 45 minutes prior to drinking...
Notes from a year ago:"Color was a faded purple/garnet, bricking at the edge. Nose of dusted dark berries, minerals and floral notes.. Elegant, mature palate showing black cherry, cassis, mineral, cigar, forest floor and violet. Smooth texture, medium bodied and long (for this age) finish."
Nose of this bottle more layered than last bottle - Minerals, stone and graphite shining through a bit more, early on it was great to just take in the nose...medium bodied palate showing black cherry, cigar, box, savory/meats, and floral/violet.
In a really good spot right now. likely past its "Peak" but just a classic Bdx, nicely expressive drinking well.
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3/5/2019 - onboisduvin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Already over its peak, but still enjoyable.
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3/3/2019 - PJRONeill wrote: 91 Points
A delicious bottle, yet just slightly off previous examples, suggesting that this is perhaps on the downslope of its aging profile. A classic nose of cigar, strawberry jam, pencil and beef stock but on the palate it's beginning to show its age with the fruit becoming a tad dilute and the acidity a little more prominent.
There's probably a good 5 years of ideal drinking left in this one but I wouldn't be shy in consuming any remaining bottles over the next 2-3 years.
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2/9/2019 - dbg wrote:
Pichon Baron and more (Dino's Grotto, DC): Pop and pour, drunk over 4 hours. Dark red core, fading at the rim. Dusty, mushroom and earth nose with faded cassis and cherry fruit, hints of cedar. Medium body, nice complexity and balance, medium-long finish. Though a step behind bottles from a few years ago, still excellent and one of the stars of the night.
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1/17/2019 - dream Likes this wine: 94 Points
A beautiful bottle of this wine and drinking near the very top of the vintage now. Full and broad across the palate with delicious flavors of charcoal, dark earth, gravel and exotic spices. Finishes smooth with softened tannins and layers of dark chocolate and sweet tobacco. Gorgeous and perfect now.
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12/25/2018 - pilot360 wrote:
One of the most funky, stinky bottles I e opened in a while. Like a cloud of poisonous gas setting just above the wine. Smelled really sharply of green pepper and rotting leaves. Gave it some time in the decanter - over 3 hours - the funk blew off, had some balsamic, green pepper, occasional hints of fine clear cherry coming through. The palate was much more intense I Rialto, then leveled out with time . A good wine drinking experience.
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12/24/2018 - Kepos wrote: 89 Points
not much left, a bit thin for me, there were soft tannins, a bit of acidity but unfortunately no fruit at all, it was a good wine but not spectacular
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12/5/2018 - UTPK wrote:
Very fresh and lovely. Much better than the 20 year old verdict between 1986 and 1985. The best producers made better wine in 1985, at least the way they taste today. Classic nose of green leaves, fresh flowers, cedar, green pepper, thyme. Medium body with mature tannins, a bit acidic but not at all like 1986.
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11/21/2018 - BernieMSY wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful aged bordeaux. Leather, roast meat, tobacco. Rich, but featuring secondary characteristics. Fruit has largely gone but it remains interesting.
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8/12/2018 - Amerique wrote: 95 Points
Spectacular! Rich well integrated black cherry fruit with tobacco and tar flavors, excellent structure, ample finish
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7/15/2018 - tzelmer wrote: 92 Points
Red currant, aged cigar, blackberry but just a hint. Medium body, fully integrated mature Bordeaux. In a great drinking spot right now. The fruit is almost gone but the secondary flavors of tobacco and slight leathery touches are very refined. I would drink sooner rather than later.
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4/7/2018 - galewskj wrote: 94 Points
Guys Night - Bordeaux vs Napa (Jason's House): 1 hour decant. This wine had mixed opinions as to how good it is. I thought it was a great old Bordeaux, soft integrated tannins, harmonious palate. There is the typical funk, cedar box, earth, red fruit.
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4/4/2018 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Aged High End Bordeaux Blends (Jason P's, St. Paul, MN): Very dark red color with a 7mm transitional bricked margin. One hour decant, drank 1 glass over 2 hours. Drank next to the '84 Dominus. The Cos is much more fruit driven, complex dark fruits of cassis and boysenberry on the nose, scorched earth, pipe tobacco, smoke, wood. The palate is dense and concentrated, black cherry, plum, cassis, oak, scorched earth, round tannins, smoke and a bit sharp on the finish. 93+pts.
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3/24/2018 - RockinCabs wrote: 94 Points
Nose: Plum, blackberry, turned earth, cigar and spice notes. Palate: Great palate weight giving dense plum notes, but the red fruit had focus. Acidity keeps it fresh as the wine delivered graphite, floral and muddy earth notes. Finish: Resonating dark fruit, tobacco and earth.
The 85 Cos continues to show great. I prefer this to the more voluptous 86 which spill over into roasted fruit too often. Charming and fresh I'll keep drinking this while it is in top form.
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3/10/2018 - emzee.mc wrote: 93 Points
This wine pours an inky purple with a garnet core, a brickish orange rim and long legs. With time and air (5 hours), the wine starts to unravel its denseness and the nose is all the more powerful and concentrated. The bouquet yields a harmonious marriage between primary black fruits, macerated cherries, lead pencil shavings, stewed plums, and tertiary notes of cedar, cigar box, smoked meats, black tar and burnished leather. Such angularity is classic St. Estephe. The age is really starting to take a grip. On the palate, the characteristically harsh tannins of this AOC are now mellow, resolved, and well-integrated into the wine. Along with the bold structure yields a supple generosity in the juice. Despite the age, the wine is still lively and kicking, thanks to its balancing acidity. Just like the nose, tertiary notes are starting to preponderate and there are plenty of cigar smoke, ripe cherries, green peppercorns, cassis, coffee, sous bois and leather. The wine lingers on for a very long time and displays layers upon layers of flavors with flair. Finally, the juice concludes in a smoky, peppery finish that is intertwined with plush cherry sweetness. This wine is a textbook example of what a gracefully-aged reference Bordeaux can offer. It is certainly at its prime now and will surely hold for more years ahead.
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2/20/2018 - walkerjfw wrote:
3rd Annual PNV Kick Lunch this year with Jamie/Juan/Patrice/Zander/Tom/Steve/Jay...another epic event (Farmstead, St. Helena, CA): A generous contribution from Jay. Cos one of my favorites, reliable, ages beautifully. My first time with this vintage.
Color was a faded purple/garnet, bricking at the edge. Nose of dusted dark berries, minerals and floral notes.. Elegant, mature palate showing black cherry, cassis, mineral, cigar, forest floor and violet. Smooth texture, medium bodied and long (for this age) finish.
Really gorgeous, still an expressive wine even at this age. A classic old school Bdx, at a perfect spot right now. My WOT(Lunch)
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2/18/2018 - KoalaHK wrote:
At Wolfgang's Steakhouse, Hong Kong from Magnum. Despite the fact that this was served in magnum, I couldn't help feeling that this bottle had reached it's peak, although it did hold well in the decanter all evening. Nevertheless, good old fashioned claret.
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2/18/2018 - melzar wrote: 93 Points
Fading a bit but still damn good claret. Beautiful nose springs from bottle upon opening. Fruit front and center, well balanced with acid and tannin. Will last a while on it's plane of maturity, but will not improve Lovely sweet finish.
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1/17/2018 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Packed with tobacco, cedar, smoke, spicy red fruits and cigar box aromatics, the wine is medium/full bodied, with a finish that marries cassis, black fruits and cranberry. While there is no hurry to drink well stored bottles, this is fully mature.
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12/16/2017 - AudunG wrote: 93 Points
Lovely mature Bordeaux aromas, with minerals, flowers, green herbs, earth and leather. The former coffee aromas have disappeared. Typical St. Estephe, with its massive and mineral mouth feeling. On the other hand it was also soft and mature on the palate.
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12/3/2017 - englishman's claret wrote: 93 Points
This was a wonderful showing for a delicious, plummy, earthy, smoky, cedary, classic Cos. Ripe and lively in the mouth. Others found this a little quiet on the nose and while the volume wasn't turned up too loud, I thought there was plenty there. Not as complex as the Pichon Lalande beside it, but very satisfying.
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11/21/2017 - Bourgognefreak Likes this wine: 93 Points
very elegant and light with refined Bordeaux character. Pencil, cedar and flinty notes but in a subtle - perfectly balanced. Not a heavyweight and thanks for that. Excellent to drink now.
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10/14/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 90 Points
Saturday Lunch with Friends and Wine (Beacon Tavern - Chicago IL): Served blind as an unknown Bordeaux, this shows its age appropriately with a good balance of earth, mushroom, tannins and rich black cherry and plum. Good right now, probably limited upside.
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8/4/2017 - europat55 wrote: 92 Points
Nose: A- Palate: B++/A-
My #4, Group's #9 (85 pts). Tasted Blind
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6/28/2017 - andtheodor wrote: 91 Points
Plenty of mature Bordeaux charm, cedar, smoky poblano, some dark fruit, good texture and acidity but generally seems reticent and not particularly giving right now. A little more intrigue on the nose than palate, and not quite living up to expectations but enjoyable all the same.
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4/15/2017 - Kemo Sabe Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich, deep, tasting young. Plum, red and black fruit. There was nothing about this that jumped out nor was there anything off with this bottle. I liked it but fear it may have been overshadowed in a night of great wines. Pleasurable and tasty for sure.
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4/13/2017 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 92 Points
Mixed 1985 Dinner (Amali): Spicy nose, some cool cola, and a ton of shaved red cedar. Came back to this two hours later and the red cedar and dried back cherry is huge. No brett, super clean, just mature and developed. Earth-driven tones keep it intriguing. Fine drinking for lovers of classic claret. Enjoyable now but has structure and fruit flavour to carry on for decades.
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3/23/2017 - kenv Likes this wine: 95 Points
WCC Saint Estephe Blind Tasting (Provence Restaurant, Albany, NY): Smoky black fruit in the nose. Juicy black fruit in the mouth. Long and still a bit tannic. Once I knew which wine this was, I was shocked. I would never have imagined that a 1985 would taste this young past 30 years of age.
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2/20/2017 - plitton wrote: 92 Points
Velvety soft with fully integrated tannins. Definitely on the down side of the curve but still quite enjoyable.
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2/10/2017 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 96 Points
Outstanding color and string floral nose. Decanted for an hour. Initial taste had tar like finish, then over the next hour developed really well and the filet only added points to the only over taste of the wine. Wow! Buy.
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12/31/2016 - Glifberg wrote: 90 Points
Korken smulades sönder i många delar
Luftades i karaff under 1,5 h
Typisk Cos dock något tunn eftersmak
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12/31/2016 - Amerique wrote: 92 Points
Wine was disappointing! Closed, tight fruit, black cherry fruit with leathery flavors, excellent structure, well integrated, good acidity, short finish. Wine seemed to lack vibrancy. Don't remember what it was like when last tasted but gave it much higher score.
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12/10/2016 - conviction buy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Agn, bt decanted 2 hrs+, deeper color than the 82 Canon, nose has more structure, and higher acidity which made the wine completely plush and enticing. Leather, tobacco and cassis. On palate, similar aroma and really a gem. Highly recommemd.
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10/15/2016 - RockinCabs wrote: 95 Points
Consistent with my last note. This wine is very graceful and balanced. Plummy Cos fruit with classic earth/mineral tones and just a bit of Cos Spice. Choosing between vintages 85 is currently superior to the 86 with a much more direct approach and clear personality.
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9/29/2016 - SimonG wrote: 93 Points
JB @ Cabotte (Cabotte): Sweet and cedary nose. Very St Julien, but more clay and mineral grip on the palate that points to St Estephe. Middle-aged, quite trad with a little herbal edge. 85 or 78? Yup, all makes sense when revealed. Lovely trad claret. ****
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6/30/2016 - Jamie Manley wrote: 95 Points
Wow, what a nose! This wine just confirmed that 1985 is my favorite Bordeaux vintage for aromatics, especially left bankers. Wafting notes of cedar, tobacco, cherry, cassis, earth, black tea, and pencil. Never faded and was delightful all night long. The palate holds up its end of the bargain, though without the fireworks of the nose. Pretty similar from a flavor standpoint to the nose, the palate is rich and offers very nice layers of complexity. Not a blockbuster, but this is a contemplative wine and is well worth taking your time with. Highly recommended. 95 Pts
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5/20/2016 - Bacchus&Ceres Likes this wine: 93 Points
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is light sediment in the bottle. It aromatics are outstanding and it smells like blackberry and black currant (cassis), and it held it flavors till the end. It tastes like blackberry and red currant. The body is medium. The wine has round texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity. This wine was rich and full of grace and finesse; flavors and aromatics are concentrated with a jammy sweetness, round and beautiful.
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4/26/2016 - MarceloIdeses wrote: 96 Points
Classic vintage for estournel, almost perfect. Drink now
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3/21/2016 - Paul D wrote:
Ian Springett's St. Estephe Off-line (RSJ Restaurant, Southwark): Slightly dusty/earthy even green nose, but also some attractive cedary red fruit. Medium bodied, harmonious, soft tannins, attractive cedary red fruit, balanced acidity, perhaps falls away a tad on the finish but very good. ***
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3/21/2016 - SimonG wrote: 91 Points
St Estephe @ RSJ (RSJ, London): Riper and plusher than the Haut Marbuzet on the nose, but seems a little green and herby with air. Comes and goes a bit after a three hour decant, but seems to pull itself back together again after a slight leanness and attenuation on the palate. Savoury and quite classic after a while. Lovely. ****
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2/4/2016 - Bacchus&Ceres Likes this wine: 93 Points
Voluptuous, spicy dark red cherries, full bodied smooth round seductive, clinging thick long legs, herbaceous minted mid palette finish of endless
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1/18/2016 - dcwino wrote: 94 Points
Cos d'Estournel Vertical with Aymeric de Gironde (Ripple Restaurant in DC): Subtle red fruits, a hint of green, cedar, leather, mushroom and earth. Warm, soft and round palate. Not the most profound but simply delicious.
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1/18/2016 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 97 Points
15 Vintages of Cos d'Estournel (Ripple - Washington, DC): This wine stands out for its bright, red-fruited approach. Smells tangy and herbal with bright red currants, red apple peel, violets, bay leaf, cigar smoke, floral perfume - an incredibly complex and elegant nose on this beauty. Bright and clean on the palate, with refined tannins and fresh acid. The red currant fruit is laced with rose hips, white pepper, cardamom, floral perfume, oregano and tobacco. Long, crisp finish, full of complexity. So bright and sexy, and showing wonderfully. Not the most heralded wine in the lot, but for my palate, the freshness on this wine is so damn attractive.
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1/16/2016 - dream Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fully mature and drinking so beautifully. A very soft, open texture with classic Cos notes of gravel and black currants with hints of herbs and spices. The finish is soft and complex and rolls over the tongue the way mature left-bank Bordeaux is supposed too. Just drinking beautifully tonight.
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12/7/2015 - Aglenardi Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nice bottle, excellent fill. Cork halved and crumbled when opened. Double decanted for 2 hours and served. Initially I thought this wine is dead. Funky nose and diluted watery wine. When it was served 2 hours later it expanded into a surprisingly lovely bouquet of rose and cherry with lively fresh cherry and plum. Nice long expansive finish. Should be in this drinking window for 5 years. Enjoy yours now. Nice QPR as well for around USD 100 at auction
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11/27/2015 - pepmi wrote:
Just as incredible a wine tasting experience as suggested by my notes of two years ago. This is the last of my '85 Cos and I am imagining what it would be like to open a bottle like this every day of your life. Heaven perhaps...
In one word. Delicious.
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11/26/2015 - In2wines wrote: 92 Points
November 2015 - Copenhagen
On a 1985 vertical of 16 wines, This is good but not great, have had at least 6 bottles over the past 10 years, for me it is not getting better and was better 2-5 years ago, believe me it is a pleasant mature Bordeaux who gives you a great time, but against all the big shots it was short.
Drink 2015-2020
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11/6/2015 - Collector1855 wrote: 93 Points
Cos d'Estournel vertical - Check in on some recent vintages; 8/1/2016-9/3/2016: At a tasting: Bordeaux 1985 at age 30. Medium dark garnet. Nose of dark fruit, dense with mint, tobacco and earth, spicy. Great presence on the palate but tannins not as soft as in a recent sample.
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10/14/2015 - rossi.wine wrote: 94 Points
Tasted alongside 1985 Pichon Lalande and Gruaud Larose. More backward and robust than both. Less floral and scented than the Pichon Lalande. More earthy, smoky, leathery notes on the nose. Great grip and texture, very vibrant and fresh with lots of ripe, juicy fruit. Very well balanced and showing wonderful length. My favourite 1985 in this tasting and a great bottle, confirming the high rating from about 18 months ago. No rush. 93-95
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10/14/2015 - Papies wrote: 93 Points
1982, 1985 & 1989 Bordeaux Super Seconds, with Richard Brazier (Handford Wines, London): Still quite a fresh red colour. Vibrant in colour. Classic nose, leather, mushrooms, but with very healthy fruit interlaced. Quite alive, balanced and elegant (a 1985 hallmark) , good length. A few harsh notes here and there but a pretty solid, nice wine. Soft and elegant Cos and seems to still be going strong. 92-93
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10/12/2015 - KenK Likes this wine: 93 Points
Inviting dark sweet dried red fruit aromas with classic green pepper edge. Nice mature flavors in fine balance showing, dusty black cherry, green pepper, and nice overall sense of good ripeness. Was groups favorite of the nite as drank very well. A friendly wine with subtle complexities and a good finish. A very good drinking window that has years left.
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10/12/2015 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points
Chateau Cos d'Estournel Dinner (The Bristol - Chicago IL): Very pleasant. Nicely mature with balanced aromas of black fruit, spice, earth. I find this somewhat one-dimensional on palate, consistent with previous bottles, and don't exactly understand why others seem to enjoy this a lot more.
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10/8/2015 - Collector1855 wrote: 95 Points
During a tasting, served semi blind. Medium garnet, brick rim. Nose of cedar, caramel, mint. Enters the palate unusually soft for a St.Estephe with complex aromatics and very good, soft mouth feel.
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8/31/2015 - ruffsurf Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cellar aged since purchase in 1988. Did not decant. First whiff feared it might be corked, but it was just a quickly disappearing scent from the removed cork--then it quickly gave way to a classic Bordeaux nose. Color suggests normal not excessive signs of aging. Light body (but not thin) led to an impeccably balanced wine that paired seamlessly with a grilled shell steak. Plus finish. This bottle is in the perfect drinking window. Guessing it has 10 more years at least, though it's not going to be any better than it is today.
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8/1/2015 - Wine_lvr wrote: 86 Points
°°° Bordeaux 1985 °°° (Emmen, Switzerland): Brick color. Nose shows lots of sherry notes and lovage. Nice sweetness, still some juice left but very one dimensional. After 15min this wine falls completely apart. Maybe an off bottle but I am sure the wine is not also fully mature out of good bottles
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6/28/2015 - RockinCabs wrote: 94 Points
Nose: sweet herbs, cherry, blackberry, leather, spices and sweet earth. Classic cos nose. Palate: enters with bright acidity that breaks into cherry, Indian spice, anise and currant. Sweet fruit layers with leather and spice components. Finish: quite long but somewhat one note. No drying, but lacking completeness.
This is a nice cos with all the topicity of the property, but is just held back from greatness.
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4/27/2015 - lesz wrote: 92 Points
probably will not get much better but really enjoyed
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4/12/2015 - spendergast Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine continues to hold up very well. This bottle was better than the last bottle I consumed in 2009. Concentrated fruit with soft integrated tannins, long finish. A very nice mature bordeaux with plenty of life left.
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4/11/2015 - Cheungtp Likes this wine: 95 Points
Although the light ruby color tells its age, the 85 Cos is at its sweet spot and drinking very nicely. Red fruits, mineral, spice, earthy elements have all come together, coupling with the smooth mouth feel and still a good grippy touch. The wine will certainly hold up gracefully for many years, a wonderful claret.
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3/21/2015 - Papies wrote: 93 Points
30 years of 1985 Bordeaux at The Papies (The Papies, Elizabeth St, London): Double decanted and left to rest for a good hour till it was served. Good level and cork.
Definitely the colour shows its age. Still very healthy. The nose is of a true claret, light dark fruit, peppery and as expected with a nice secondary side too. Cedar notes too. Where it stood out vs the rest of the wines on the day was the mineral side of it, true St Estephe, had a solid firm core and was jus a beauty. May be lacked a bit of finish but this for old school mature claret lovers (and Cos Groupies) like us was a beauty. 93 and drink now.
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2/7/2015 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points
Chevalier Wine Tasting (Chicago, IL): Tasting, brief note. Mature and earthy with subdued black fruit, moderate depth, good textures.
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12/29/2014 - PC73 wrote: 91 Points
Very smoky on the nose. Touch of blackberry with time.
Initially quite thin on the palate. Lacking fruit. With time in the air, became a bit more expressive and rounded. A hint of blackberry on the palate later on.
Overall not particularly elegant or charming.
Solid but not spectacular.
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11/28/2014 - Corkz284 wrote:
Greewn pepper, dry herbsw, mushroom bouquetwwwwww www
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10/22/2014 - dhammer53 wrote:
Drank this with Berserkers at Uncle Jacks in NYC. Old smell and taste. Some thought it corked. FYI, the '88 was much better.
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10/18/2014 - Rupert wrote: 93 Points
Opaque, charcoal and tobacco on the nose, dense on the palate, ripe, some coffee, gentle in texture and absolutely delightful.
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10/15/2014 - Bill Bucklew wrote: 92 Points
Dark core with burnished edges. Mature nose of rustic red fruit, cedar with a green pepper note. There's a very elegant earthy note on the palate, rounded red berry fruit, mulled spices and cedar. With moderate acidity, this is a very balanced mature wine.
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9/23/2014 - octopussy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Almost 30 years of Bordeaux: Very dark red, no signs of age. In the nose, this is quite linear, a bit monolithic, slightly confected fruit, in particular cherry, some mint, dark, brooding, impressive, but not particularly fine. On the palate, it's also a bit monolithic, slightly angular with prominent acidity and well integrated, but present tannin. Minerally in the long finish. Michael Broadbent calls this wine a "mammoth" in the context of the vintage and I would agree.
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7/19/2014 - Cheungtp Likes this wine: 95 Points
A beautifully aged Bordeaux that offers immense drinking pleasure, which many CT tasters seem to agree on. The attraction begins with the first pour, gorgeous clear ruby color, follows up with aromatics of red fruits, graphite, tobacco leaf, spice and bit of leather, awesome stuff. Medium mouth feel that is pure and clean, fruity notes still remain, plus bitter tea leaf and earth. Tannins are all softened up, and finish is long lasting. This is at its peak and definitely worth trying and enjoy.
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6/8/2014 - Philippe_C wrote: 93 Points
Powerful nose of ripe strawberries, hint of chocolate, sandalwood, oriental spices.... taste of pure fresh red cherries, sappy acidity, zero tannins, hint of mokka, typical Cos
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5/30/2014 - Zweder wrote: 95 Points
Bordeaux 1985 as main theme (@ Bottles; Sas van Gent, Netherlands): Great to taste this wine again! Beautiful and rustic bouquet with still good mature cassis. On the palate cassis and other dark forest fruits still, earthy flavors, good acidity and tannin with still a good bite. Beautifully balanced and a great length. Mature Bordeaux can be sooo beautiful! Can probably last another 5 years if you are lucky enough to have a perfect bottle.
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4/19/2014 - johnh1001 wrote: 94 Points
1985 Bordeaux dinner (Travelle Chicago): Very impressive showing tonight. Sweet core of red fruit, leather and tobacco. Some vanilla and a creamy texture. A surprise in this lineup.
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3/18/2014 - Papies wrote: 94 Points
Five Decades of Cos D'Estournel with Richard Brazier (Handford Wines, London): Was ranked second after the stellar 1990, and once again a beautiful performance of 1985 vintage. Had a nice sweet core of fruit, well round, silky wine. Very aromatic, classic nose, showing a fair amount of secondary notes, still however with a healthy dose of fruit. This seems to be going strong and performed a lot better than the last time we came across it. 94-95 easy and drink now
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3/18/2014 - rossi.wine wrote: 95 Points
Less herbal on the nose than the 1987, smokey, tobacco, spices , mushrooms - very complex and intriguing nose. A little austere with firm acidity but complex with great balance, very long and harmonious, lovely presence and grip. Drinking perfectly now, but no rush. Exceptional, one of the stars of the tasting. 94-96
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2/16/2014 - theusualsuspect wrote: 93 Points
Compelling mature richness in this wine - a superb mouthful. A reminder why old Bordeaux offers so much more than young Bordeaux. The flaw if you will is not a green note as many have noted, it is instead in my view a pimento flavor that runs through the wine.
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2/9/2014 - Umay Ceviker wrote:
Brick in colour with a promising bouquet of truffles, earth and autumn leaves. Silky with fine tannins and bright acidity but lacking the fruit to knit them together under a fine balance. Now past its best but maybe due to this particular bottle, the background of which is uncertain.
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12/31/2013 - Marc wrote: 91 Points
New Year's Eve (In memory of Charlie Trotter) (Eketahuna, New Zealand): Still feels very young - classic cedar new oak. Some green aspects add to
the linerality if the wine. Will drink well for years. Classic claret. Herbal, light on its feet and beautifully fragrant. To be critical,
it is slightly simple and the fruit feels ever so slightly under ripe but the classic cedar notes add to an exquisite experience. Great to taste a beautiful Cos before they turned towards the very ripe style of today.
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12/31/2013 - paul195 wrote: 93 Points
Had the 1986 Cos immediately following this bottle
Opened and let breath for an hour -- A beautiful Cos, balanced, rich fruit, nice finish - none of the green notes that afflict many 1985s
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12/15/2013 - johnh1001 wrote: 88 Points
Mixed experience with this wine. I like the flavor profile, but the texture and finish are harsh and angular. Best with food.
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11/29/2013 - Jamie Manley wrote: 95 Points
First off, the color on this wine is absolutely glorious - crystal clear ruby red with no signs of bricking. Very rarely do I get excited about a wine's color, but I could not help but hold this up to a light and admire its beauty. The aromas are all that I love about the 1985 vintage. Black tea, wet stones, sweet red fruit, earth, tobacco, mint, and pencil. The nose alone is worth the admission price. The palate is not a blockbuster, unlike, say 1982 or 1990. But it delivers the goods and offers all of the wonders of the nose in a style that any Burgundy lover would appreciate. A gentleman's claret if you will. Completely sorted tannins and a long and clean finish. At peak, well stored bottles should hold for quite some time. 95 Pts
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10/27/2013 - ruffsurf Likes this wine: 97 Points
Hard to top this one. Bought on release in '88, stored at 54 degrees throughout. Stunning wine. Everything in harmony: fruit, acid, aromas, tannins. Classic and intoxicating Bordeaux nose. Fabulous concentration. Cedar and cassis notes. Perfect match with fatty steak. Never missed a beat after 2 hours in the glass. Thrilled I have two bottles left.
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10/12/2013 - Janstan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderful old Bordeaux. Had with mustard herb crusted tenderlooin
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10/12/2013 - pepmi wrote: 95 Points
Oh my, this bottle was like a gift from the Magi. Decanted for just under 30 minutes before serving. The barest minimum of sediment even after 28 years! The darkest black cherry color with no signs of browning on the edges. A wine that appears to be immortal.
Deep aromas of aromatic spice, clove, earth and cedar. A finish that extends into morning. A magical experience.
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9/21/2013 - johnh1001 wrote: 90 Points
Similar to the bottle a year ago although more leather and tea on the nose than vanilla. Somewhat chunky on the palate.
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8/17/2013 - Lord Rayas wrote: 93 Points
popped n poured. tobacco, dried spices, weeds that's typical of Cos. in a good state now.
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8/4/2013 - fclarity wrote: 93 Points
From a bottle purchased on release, this wine had a deep red/purple center with oranging rims. The medium+ intensity nose offerred black cherries, brown spices, clay soil, and blackberries.
In the mouth, this was ripe and rich with lovely balance and impressive length. It had light rounded tannin and nice acidity. However, the overall impression here was of sappy ripe, but still classy fruit.
This will easily last 10-20 years and might even get a bit better. Fortunately, there was no hint of the excess char note I had last bottle. A lovely wine that scored 93 points after 2-3 hours in the decanter and I thought it was done. It firmed up and got better in hour 4 which suggests to me it may even pick up a point in the future.
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7/13/2013 - maxfischer wrote: 88 Points
Base neck, slightly corroded cork. Not turned, but sharp, fruit clearly fading. Rather muddled. Disappointing.
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6/20/2013 - BradKNYC wrote:
A night of Bordeaux as Tom Reddick pays a return visit to NYC. (Le Philosophe.): A little more subdued than the last bottle I had, but a pleasant showing nonetheless. Plenty of tobacco to be had with sweet black cherry fruit, cocoa and spice. There's a softness to the acidity and the oak is apparent, which takes away some vibrancy and focus, but it's tasty. A-/B+.
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5/18/2013 - AlanM68 wrote: 93 Points
Very impressive today. Taken out of the cellar this morning and decanted for just under 2 hours. Brick to the edge and then a colourless meniscus. Hot and sweet when tasted with very good length. One of the best bottles of the case so far. Plenty of fruit still alongside tobacco.
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4/7/2013 - johnh1001 wrote: 87 Points
This bottle seemed slightly corked, but underneath was sweet red fruit and vanilla. The palate was a bit washed out an angular. Shorter finish.
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1/2/2013 - ecrogers wrote: flawed
Opened one of these at noon for dinner.
After an 8 hour decant in the cellar, the nose was actually quite nice but then when it warmed up to 18-19 degrees all went very very wrong. Tasted believing a miracle would occur, which obviously did not. Poured the entire bottle in the sink. Sad, just so sad. If you have some, I encourage you to drink up.
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12/17/2012 - BradKNYC wrote:
In which I host the Supper Club- Burg, Bordeaux and boeuf Bourguignon. (My place.): The best bottle of this I've ever had. It showed more concentration and depth then I've experienced and was fully integrated. Nice richness to the black fruit, but without being plump or roasted. Nicely earthy with cedar, spice and pleasant herbal notes. The acidity, which sometimes sticks out a bit, was in check, but kept the wine lithe and refreshing. Good stuff. Solid A-.
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11/14/2012 - melzar wrote: 92 Points
From 750, top shoulder fill. Initial mustiness upon opening suggested a wine past its prime. Consumed over a 3 hour period, the wine blew off ut's musty character to reveal a fine mature claret. Fragrant nose and sweet fruit on the palate with adequate acidity. Tannins fully resolved. May hold a few more years, but suggest drinking soon.
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10/13/2012 - johnh1001 wrote: 91 Points
Love the nose on this wine. Strong vanilla, red ripe fruits, leather, sweet tobacco. The palate matched somewhat but was a bit angular and tannic. I think this is on the way down as the structure outpaced the fruit.
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9/4/2012 - psrv wrote: 90 Points
1985 Bordeaux Blind (Berkeley): Group's #3; my #4; 3 first; 2 second; 6 third; 2 last. Aromas and flavors of red fruits, earth, forrest, and cedar. Full-bodied, with a medium and still tannic finish.
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8/14/2012 - amsuk wrote: 94 Points
In great shape, nose filled with berries with woody notes. Intense with plenty more development. Still young
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8/3/2012 - Le Vin wrote: 90 Points
Lighter bodies that I would have expected for a Cos. Very easy to drink. Tres belle robe
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6/23/2012 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
HDH auction tasting at Tru; 6/22/2012-6/23/2012 (Chicago, IL): Very, very peppery nose. Herbal, vegetal, and only a hint of secondary bordelais characteristics. Very dark and brooding, quite concentrated. A little too much of an acidic bent without anything to balance it out. Very smooth tannins.
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6/1/2012 - -E- wrote: 91 Points
Bordeaux Søskenparsmaking (Moss, Norway): Rødbrun. Skogbunn, sopp og mørke bær på nese. Jordlige toner. Tett og relativt stram. Tørre tanniner. Fremstår 5-10 år eldre enn 86 versjonen.
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6/1/2012 - LWI wrote: 91 Points
Bordeaux Siblings (Moss, Norway): A little burned taste, tight, some green elements, fresh, correct, and could have been more concentrated.
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6/1/2012 - Apotheca wrote: flawed
This did not give me much joy, and even though it may not have been a totally shot bottle, the wine fell apart in the glass, making me put a NR on this.
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5/14/2012 - Revenga wrote: 92 Points
Zachys Wine Dinner. Deep purple. Quite herbaceous and burnt cherry nose. Strong cassis palate. Evolving moca-caramel palate. Lost it's tannins quicker than Leoville Barton (20 mins). Long finish. Nice, I'm normally not a fan...
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5/3/2012 - dcwino wrote: 93 Points
Bernard Burtschy dinner at Taberna del Alabardero (Taberna del Alabardero, Washington D.C.): This is the first stage of maturity. Still showing fruits but becoming mostly secondary. For some this will be vague but this is simply perfectly drinking claret. Silky and delicious.
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4/18/2012 - Rupert wrote: 92 Points
1985 super seconds tasted blind (Medlar, Chelsea, London): Ripe and spicy, smooth on palate, grippy finish - one of its better showings, still a bit tight, so could get even better
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4/17/2012 - SimonG wrote: 93 Points
Rupert's 1985 'Super Seconds' (The Medlar, London): Quite full with some spiciness. Really quite rich but held more in check by a minerality than the LLC. Holds its line. Quite restrained and understated but cooly classy. ?Cos. ****
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3/30/2012 - BernieMSY wrote: 97 Points
What can I say? I'm feeling a bit self-indulgent tonight. I couldn't resist going back to the well so quickly.
This particular bottle was full of leather and tobacco tones. Deep deep Cassis fruit , followed by a long, lingering finish. Some tannins remain, they are a background note. All in all, another wonderful bottle that shows there really is a reward for deferred gratification.
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3/30/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
Earth, tobacco, spice, cassis and cranberry, this medium bodied wine is starting to lose its fruit and charm. Better on the nose than the palate, with a lean, cranberry and cassis finish, this was better a few years ago. I'd drink this now, before it continues dropping fruit.
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3/16/2012 - BernieMSY wrote: 96 Points
A little tight upon opening, after half-an hour it blossomed. While light brown is visible at the very edges, a deep dark color remains. Deep integrated blackberry and cassis flavors. A few sharp angles lurk just below the attack and they beautifully balance the delicious mid palate. I know this sounds a bit pretentious. Deep, long, satisfying finish. Still retains tannins, but they were subdued enough to suggest that current consumption is recommended. Delicious!
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2/19/2012 - heegaard wrote: 95 Points
Can't be any better and has not been better. Perfect strong color.
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1/9/2012 - J o e wrote: 94 Points
Ruby red, with hardly any bricking at the edge. Decanted and drunk over a two-hour period. Highly aromatic nose of high quality pipe tobacco, flowers, and a touch of band aid. Medium- to full-bodied in the mouth , with copious black cherries, plums and exotic spices that linger on the palate all the way through on the long, lightly tannic finish. A very classy St. Estephe that is at peak, but will hold for another decade. But, given how well it drinks, why wait?
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12/31/2011 - spillwine wrote: 95 Points
Vieux grenier au nez, extraordinaire en bouche
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12/22/2011 - Ary wrote: 89 Points
My last bottle, next to Cos d'Estournel 1986. Fairly complex, herbs, vanilla, twigs and medicine chest in the nose. Medium bodied and elegant on the palate with well delineated layers of earth, tobacco and red fruit. But declining quickly with some time in the glass. Better drink soon.
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12/12/2011 - aof wrote: 93 Points
Perfumed, elegant, and deeply rich with dark chocolate notes.
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11/26/2011 - fclarity wrote: 91 Points
From an nice looking bottle, this wine had a deep red/purple center and some orange at the rim. The nose featured black fruits, mocha, and a distinct woodsy/tobacco note that made it a bit off for me. It was almost as if the barrels were a bit too charred.
This wine was a bit tough at first but over the course of 3+ hours it rounded out nicely to show nice forward fruit and subtle rounded tannin. An attractive wine in the mouth. It will be interesting to see if other bottle have the same problem in the nose.
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10/27/2011 - phantphant wrote: 95 Points
WOW....superb aged right bank Bordeaux....smooth, silky and earthy to the extreme.
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10/25/2011 - dbermanmd Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened up and decanted for one hour, and could have used another hour or two. Beautiful color and legs. There was a bit of funk on the nose. Very fruity and soft with earth notes throughout. Still a lot of life here but would recommend several hours of decanting to clear the nose.
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10/15/2011 - salil wrote: 89 Points
Impressive at first, full of fresh, youthful dark fruited and cassis flavours framed by savoury earthy and tobacco flavours - but with some air it starts to fade a bit as the fruit loses intensity and a faint volatile element emerges.
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9/29/2011 - Papies wrote: 92 Points
A bit of a rushed TN. Wine needs 1hour decanting as the nose only opened towards the end of our dinner. On start the nose is muted but develops nicely into an aged bdx nose fruit, cedary very nice. On the palate it is well round, not lush as the stony st estephe terroir rules here. Will reserve judgement for a better day when we are more focissed. 92-93 and in a good time to drink up
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9/4/2011 - jdlee1232 wrote: 92 Points
Solid -- great nose; fairly complex; not a blockbuster but a very pleasant wine
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8/4/2011 - MRichman wrote:
Kiwi-In-My-Future offline (La Fonda del Sol, NYC): A little tight with good muscle and broad herbal appeal. Hint of sweetness but a bit young. Very well built, friendly and nice. Younger than the last bottle. My #3 WOTN.
A-
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7/30/2011 - Rupert wrote: flawed
NadNash dinners: Hot, oxidised, just about drinkable, but why bother
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7/19/2011 - MRichman wrote:
Cos d'Estournel vertical (Morton's NYC): Broad, friendly with a sweet and black center. Some acidic tannins. Smooth, round, soft. Fully mature. My #3 WOTN of the night.
B+/A-
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6/25/2011 - floydtp wrote: 90 Points
CellarTracker Wisconsin June 2011; 6/24/2011-6/25/2011 (Madison, WI- various venues): Tasted non blind at a large wine dinner. Very strong briar patch on the nose and a faint hint of some blackberries. Similar tastes and finish. Probably not a lot of improvement left.
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6/25/2011 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
CellarTracker Wisconsin Offline I - Part Three - Grand Finale (Madison, WI): WIML92+/-?
Tasted non blind at a wine dinner.
Garnet to perhaps dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of Briar patch, tobacco and berries. Flavors of berries, raspberries and cherries. Medium to bright acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink or hold.
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6/25/2011 - petitblanc wrote:
CT Wisconsin Offline; 6/24/2011-6/25/2011 (Madison, WI): To my palate, this bottle seemed a bit thin and green. Drink now, if this bottle is representative. Not scored.
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6/25/2011 - IWineAlot wrote: 91 Points
CT Wisconsin Offline (Madison, WI): Lovely mature nose of dark fruit, cedar and hints of leather. Medium bodied, very smooth. This bottle of Cos is at its peak right now and I don't see it getting any better. Drink if you got 'em.
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4/15/2011 - GlöckliWein wrote: 91 Points
This a very respactable Cos !! °
But nevertheless it is a bit one dimensional !
I cant help, but after horus of erartion it s i becoming a bit more complex..
it is typical COS ... but no much of the exitement of any GREAT Year ! !!
herbacous, strong, no sign of aging ! but not so much fruit and glycerin like any smooth and
sexy YEAR like 2003 and 1990 !°!!
a little of a pitty .. but almost intersting ! ;-)
91/ 10 POSSIBBLE POINTS
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4/13/2011 - hkm520240 wrote: 93 Points
Drank this alongside a Mouton '97. Dark garnet red with slight mahogany tinge, just started to show its age. Beautiful nose, showing leather, cassis, dark fruit and cedar. Subtle and smooth on palate, with tobacco, leather and dark fruits. It has nice balance and good acidity. Long finish and fine tannins. Drinking at its peak now and this elegant wines stood well against the Mouton '97.
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4/5/2011 - AlanM68 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Progressing through the last few of these in the cellar. This one drunk over lunch alongside a 2001 Giacosa Barolo. One wine getting old, one wine definitely too young. There isn't much time left for the 85 Cos, though it's still lovely to drink you can see the brick colour encroaching every further through the wine and an increasing sense of farm rather than fruit.
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2/23/2011 - AlanM68 Likes this wine: 90 Points
This was tasted alongside a Pichon Comtesse 1986. It came off the worst - the Pichon still has fruit and tastes like it has plenty of time ahead of it. The Cos is already brown around the edges and tasting far more of farm - but it's not a bad wine, just one that is nearing the end of its drinking life.
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2/6/2011 - herberto wrote: 88 Points
My Super Bowl wine this year. A nice old bottle of claret. Happy it wasn't ruined. But fairly light-bodied, almost thin. Typical red brick and nose of old shoes. Not complaining about any of that - comes with the ticket. Just not that much there there.
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1/15/2011 - miesjel48 wrote: 89 Points
zo maar gedronken tijdens TVOH. Wat een wijn (nog steeds)
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11/27/2010 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
Occasional tasting group (@ PZ Only Magnums): Again a beautiful bottle with barnyard and smoky impressions and still firm acidity on the palate. Beautiful wine. See also previous notes.
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11/24/2010 - jdlee1232 wrote: 95 Points
Great, herbaceous, leathery nose. Perhaps a little short on the finish but a terrific wine.
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8/20/2010 - jkoenen wrote: 87 Points
Hedonistic Diner, Part 2 (Restaurant Le Défi, Sprang-Capelle): My guess was "Old Bordeaux 75?". Suppose that's not a compliment. Colour was pretty deep and lively, but I had some issues with the bouquet, which was rather musty and old. Not very appealing, though no apparent faults. 16/20
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8/20/2010 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful and mature bouquet with pleasant barnyard. Also a bit dusty. Nevertheless still very much alive and complex. Although everything is soft and completely ready and the wine will not improve anymore; if you have a properly stored bottle and if you are lucky, the wine will probably offer the same pleasure 5 years from now.
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8/15/2010 - Bob in NC wrote: 90 Points
Smooth drinking and nicely balanced. Good mature fruit on the nose and palate with pencil lead, completely integrated tannins with a good earthy dark fruit finish.
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6/22/2010 - ed-d wrote: 90 Points
Stewed prune on the nose. A bit tight & still very tannic on the palate. The tannins masking black currant & plum fruit. Tasted blind.
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6/22/2010 - Wink wrote: 91 Points
Tasted as part of Cos d'Estournel vertical with Cincinnati Mondiale du Vin ('82, '85, '96, '00, '05). This wine was alot like the '82, but less so. Brick tinted color. Nose of black cherry and tobacco. Medium palate of blackberry, licorice. Excellent length. Pleasant acidity. Tannins much less in evidence than in the '82. Smooth and silky.
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6/18/2010 - englishman's claret wrote:
Post-boards-celebration (Watertown): Mature robe but still deep; nice sous-bois, brambly nose, also meaty and peppery. Very savory palate, nice spice notes. Put on a little weight in the glass and while enjoyable, a bit monolithic even for St. Estephe.
3.5-4/5
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2/18/2010 - madeiradog wrote: 92 Points
Dinner with Bernard Burtschy (Taberna del Alabardero): Acidity slightly dominates this wonderful mature and complex wine. A tinge of herbalness spices up the mature fruit along with a touch of cedar and leather.
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2/15/2010 - Winevestor wrote: 94 Points
Drank this side by side with a 1984 Insignia from Joseph Phelps. Great pairing. The Cos was big on the nose with a strong classic bell pepper nose. On the palate, it was tough but with a lot of black berry left. Over the course of an evening the wine mellowed and lost some of its hardness, whilst retaining a fprmidable structure. Still drinkng well, but at the end of its plateau.
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2/14/2010 - Wil wrote: 92 Points
A lovely rich, classically styled Bordeaux, with a touch of richness beyond the "normal" Bordeaux. On the nose, the wine is restrained, with a hint of tobacco and earth. On the palate, the richness fills the mouth, with cigar box, tobacco, and flint. The wine is well rounded and fully mature. It has years left, but waiting will not bring additional complexity, in my opinion. The finish is nice and lasts and lasts. A bit two (rather than three) dimensional; still, quite a lovely wine and thoroughly enjoyable with a lovely porterhouse steak for two.
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2/2/2010 - Siggy wrote: 92 Points
Tasting Group Dinner - It Was A Great Run (Heidi's, Minneapolis): A nice, foursquare, down-the-middle Cos, and one of the better examples of this wine I've had recently. The nose is big and bloody, leading to a classically structured, red fruit-driven claret palate. Medium-weight flavors of cherries, cedar, and lead pencil, with a supple texture and a moderately long finish.
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2/2/2010 - Dave Dalluge wrote: 92 Points
Groundhog Day!: Dark red color. Awesome nose featuring red fruit, oak/cedar, coffee and earth. Thrilling. Unfortunately, not quite as good in the mouth; plenty of fruit, nice weight, good balance -- nothing really wrong, just no wow.
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1/1/2010 - Vinomane wrote: 90 Points
Level well into neck, cork very sound and stained to 1/3 length. Audouzed 3 hours, decanted another hour. Despite all this, seems to be cracking up. You still get that Cos combination of elegance and rusticity, but with nothing lively remaining. Raspberry, strawberry, earth, camphor, creosote show up at various times; finish resonates in sinuses but not elsewhere. Can't speak for other bottles, but this one would have been better consumed 5 or more years ago. Rating reflects obvious pedigree fallen from grace.
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12/13/2009 - Old Claret wrote: 92 Points
Drank with Mere, Mikey and Steven (M) at Restaurant Eugene in Atlanta.
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12/12/2009 - Wil wrote: 94 Points
What a beautiful expression of Bordeaux! The wine is fully mature but showing no signs of decline; indeed, it has fully hit its stride. There is a richness to the wine; inviting classic Bordeaux aromas on the nose that just say "come to me." On the palate the wine was layered with excellent complexity. Got this from auction and it was a lovely bottle and great expression of Bordeaux. If you have one, now's the time to have one. And it did go beautifully with that bone in ribeye, too.
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12/10/2009 - JJL wrote: 95 Points
This was a surprise and WOTA (afternoon). Big bodied, spice, blackberry, cherry, au jus, long finish - just an exceptional bottle.
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11/28/2009 - BURG-ARESCO wrote: 88 Points
Decanted for 2 hours knowing it would take a least that to bring this wine out. Nose was still not giving much beyond hints dark fruit and cedar. Taste was dark cherry, cedar and some leather. Very limited mid-palate and not much finish. Blink and you miss it. Did not really open even after another hour.
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11/27/2009 - BernieMSY wrote: 96 Points
Delicious, well-balanced and impressive. Dark color and deeply concentrated flavors. Wonderful drinking right now.
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11/27/2009 - plitton wrote: 94 Points
Great but not quite as enjoyable as the last better of a couple weeks prior. Also this bottle followed '89 Pichon Lalande which was deeper, richer and had more earthy character. None the less the Cos was wonderfully balanced and mature. Best enjoyed after 2hrs decanted.
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11/15/2009 - honest bob wrote: 93 Points
Initially closed, meagre small morello cherry taste. After 2 hours in decanter marvellous refined cedar and spice scent, fine medium-long palate, excellent slender balance of sweetness and astringency, very good 93P
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8/14/2009 - noppakit s. wrote: 91 Points
Do you believe in vintage's character ?
Cos is not my favorite but whenever I drink the mature one, no wonder....2nd Growth is 2nd Growth.
1985 is clean, the muddy scent is beautiful here, very classic Bordeaux, seductive, earth, mineral. Elegant texture, soft and smooth. Nice finished, fine wine indeed !!!
If woman likes this wine, that means....right ?
Drink now - 2015...............91+/100..................
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8/8/2009 - plitton wrote: 97 Points
Euchre: Spectacular. Rich and fully resolved tannins. Lots of earth, prosciutto and sex in the nose. Mouth is soft and velvety. Easily WOTN.
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6/27/2009 - winenuts wrote: 94 Points
Nice wine, very balance, no tannis at all,elegant, but need to decant for 2.30 hour, then to the peak, no last very long, need to be finish within 1 hour or less. Finishing is great.
The leather nose is very gentle, not like 90's cos, strong leather smell. Took a Les Pagodes de cos 98 at the same time, same family, but lots of difference.
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6/9/2009 - winefool wrote: 92 Points
IWFSC 746th Dinner (Boka): Big full nose of black fruit, cedar, and green pepper. Sour black fruit on the palate - a bit angular - and pale coffee note on the finish.
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6/6/2009 - psmith wrote:
Great stuff. All Cos clean dark fruits and tobacco notes. Classic styling. Firm but well balanced tannins. Still young but capable of delivering a lot. Medium body; well balanced. Very nice.
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6/6/2009 - beezer6 wrote: 94 Points
Saturday Tasting Group (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)): Raspberry funkwith nice creaminess on the back end.
Awesome balance. Superb.
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5/29/2009 - Winevestor wrote: 95 Points
Big, stinky nose. Probably some Bret, but wonderful anyway. Changed multiple times in the course of a few minutes, with youthful red fruit pushing through the stank. In the mouth it turned into a classic Cos: elegant wonderful structure with a great base of raspberry fruit. However not in your face; a thinking person's wine! Had it along side the '82 Cos, which was much bigger. A great wine, at its peak. If you have it in your cellar, I wouldn't keep it much longer.
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5/24/2009 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
1985 Bordeaux tasting of five wines, fourth place. Lovely, rich, complex nose and taste with a touch of fine medium tannings this afternon, medium finish.
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5/2/2009 - englishman's claret wrote:
Mature robe. Tobacco, mineral, oak, forest floor on the nose. Very little primary left. Similar profile on the palate with a bit of black pepper. Medium body, a bit hot. This bottle was surely over the hill, but perhaps it was more advanced than others.
* * *
0 = undrinkable, 1 = poor, 2 = mediocre, 3 = good, 4 = very good, 5 = superb
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5/1/2009 - TheBusiness724 wrote: 91 Points
The color was still an impressive dark ruby for a 24 year old bottle. The initial nose was very fruity and floral and wafted out of the glass, but shut down quickly. After that, a subtle forest floor, earthy and fresh rain aroma emerged, but you had to stick your nose into the glass just to get a hint of it. The palate started off acidic with a distinct green apple taste but became more balanced with blackcurrant and potpourri flavors. This medium bodied wine had a smooth feel in the mouth but has an acidic kick on the back end before mellowing into a nice long finish. The fruit is losing some of its complexity, but other indicators show that this still has some life left. We may wait a year or two on the last bottle.
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4/5/2009 - spendergast wrote: 93 Points
Notes of earth, leather, cedar. Fruit was somewhat muted but complex, coming over the palate in waves giving way to a long velvety finish. Paired great with grilled filets with hickory-molasses rub. Decanted 45 minutes, wine definitely opened up after another hour or so.
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3/12/2009 - keelegl wrote: 90 Points
Classic mature nose of earth, cedar and cigar. Medium bodied on the palate with cherry and raspberry flavors that finish slightly sour. Long finish brings the wine together nicely.
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3/12/2009 - reichken wrote: 92 Points
Cos Vertical @ St Johns- slight lightening around the edges but holding good color to the middle, some sweet dark fruits on the nose with a bit of tar/smoke. very well balanced in the mouth, medium weight still and long finish. i liked this and i thought wine was at a very good place, still showing some nice dark fruit flavor and also nice secondary notes. i think this wine will be good for awhile yet
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2/21/2009 - ldorf wrote: flawed
It is done. If you have it open and try to drink it.
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1/4/2009 - peetee wrote: 95 Points
I keep thinking this is going to be past its best. Yet again I am wrong. This is probably at its fantastic best at the moment. Wonderful cassis, cherries and cedar on the nose and the gorgeous fusion of black and red fruits, licorice and tobacco all bound by evolved fine tannins. Even some noticeable acidity still evident. This is not as opulent as the 85 Lynch B but still really hedonistic. I love the 85 Bordeaux - I'm really going to miss them when they're gone. I have a feeling the 2005s may be this rounded and fleshy when they're matured. We'll see!
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12/17/2008 - KostaKats wrote: 90 Points
Oinofiloi Holiday Tasting. Deep red, browing rim. Nose full of tobacco, grass, soil, burnt caramel, bitter chocolate, minerals. Light-medium body. Perfect tannins but acidity still bright. Peppery palate offset by a sweet edge.. Lovely, straightfoward, understated Left Bank power.
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12/3/2008 - gsquireh wrote: 94 Points
Scented black cherry nose, this is a full-bodied spicey black beauty. Surprised at the power of the fruit. Liked this Cos!
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10/11/2008 - 60ouvrees wrote:
A wonderful, hedonistic wine drinking perfectly right now. The ample fruit comes in waves and the soft, integrated tannins provide just enough support. Not as interesting as an '82 Montrose drunk recently but still quite nice.
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10/10/2008 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful bouquet with ripe cassis and pleasant barnyard. The tannin is round and soft, but still powerful. Good bitterness. Full bodied, almost fat, and also so elegant. Perfect drinking moment. Great wine!
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9/16/2008 - windgod wrote: 93 Points
12.5%. Good fill and bottle was in pristine condition. First pour into our glasses and the rest into a decanter. Mohagany translucent colour. The nose is wow!!! Very open, velvety, rich berries, herbs, earth, cigar box...........on the palate, fruits still are alive with familiar tobacco, earth, leathery notes and harmonious sweetness. The tannins are well resolved. Very clean and polished. Well balanced with great finnese. Great finish. A classic mature bordeaux. Absolutely "at point" to drink now. The nose and finish is still lingering as I typed this note..........
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8/29/2008 - sweetstuff wrote: 89 Points
Anise, leather; firm, energetic, cherry, youngish, prominent tannin. MoCOOL tasting, Dexter, MI 8.16.2008.
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8/18/2008 - Rupert wrote: 92 Points
Ripe and spicy fruit, tobacco and charcoal too, vibrant - youthful and vigorous - the eighth bottle from a case bought on release, this was its best showing yet, indeed the first time it's been exciting
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7/6/2008 - zimmy07 wrote: 91 Points
fruit worn out a bit, but still really well balanced with sweet red fruits, chocolate, and some nice earth tones to it.
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6/14/2008 - Old Claret wrote:
With Jo and Marc at Chez Nous. Again, au pointe.
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5/22/2008 - peetee wrote: 93 Points
One of two clarets chosen to watch the Champions League final with (the other being the Palmer 89). This was opened, decanted and drunk immediately as many reports seem to conclude that this wine is over the top. It's not, it was beautifully mature with a great balance of spice, tobacco and black fruits. As this was being drunk the game was in the first half and United were ahead - bad news. But then the Palmer.....
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5/17/2008 - Claudio161 wrote: 94 Points
Kdawgs birthday and tasting event (Cotes du Rhone Restaurant, Chicago, IL): Sight: Young looking wine - no bricking going on. Clear dark red wine of high viscosity.
Nose: Saddle and spice notes came to mind first. Then waves of fruit and floral layered in a seductive approach. Anise and allspice made an appearance as well. I was amazed at how a nose could appear layered and complex. Really beautiful. Later on discerned some poblano pepper notes along with some earthy pings and mushroom notes.
Taste: Spice component on the tonsils; well integrated tannin (however the tannins are still hanging on so it shows more room for aging). Lot's of toasty oak vanillins. Just a great and impressive wine.
Overall: Outstanding - 94 Points.
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5/17/2008 - jordanj wrote: 92 Points
Kdawg's Birthday 80's Bordeaux dinner (Cotes Du Rhone, Chicago, IL): Mature. Nose of creamy red fruit, sweet milk chocolate with a slight oak and mushroom sent. Oak and earthy in the mouth with a cherries and raspberries on the palate. The wine has no hard edges and was the smoothest so far of the night. After a while in the glass it took on a moldy wet basement character that was nice. Structurally the best so far.
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5/17/2008 - KeithAkers wrote: 92 Points
80s Bordeaux Birthday dinner (Cotes Du Rhone Bistro(Chicago, IL)): nose: very velvety and layered nose with rounded edges of barnyard, herbs, various peppers, creamy red fruit and mushroom tones. This velevty nose is what I expected from an 85 with that elegance and class that you'd want from it
taste: really velvety with a great red fruit core along with mushrooms, soy sauce, and varied pepper tones
overall: something tells me that this is easily what the beautiful 04 can turn into. There is that great exotice quality that I have come to expect from Cos along with a great aged sexiness that this bottle brings. Nice lush attack and mid palate feel that leans into a beautiful and round finish of herbs and currants
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5/2/2008 - bevetroppo wrote: 91 Points
Chicago Smackdown: California vs. Bordeaux 1985-1990 (Scott's house): Good positive color. Dreamy nose of plum and tobacco. Best so far. Beautiful condition. My #1, event #3.
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3/23/2008 - jpb2007 wrote: 91 Points
En accompagnement d'un agneau pascal et familial. Ouvert et carafé deux heures avant,mais sans doute servi un peu trop frais.
Nous sommes tous surpris par la jeunesse de ce vin. Nez sur les épices, le graphite, les fruits noirs, un peu d'herbe coupée. Bouche très droite, un peu sévère, grande longueur.
Une très belle bouteille, qui avait encore un longue vie potentielle devant elle.
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3/14/2008 - reichken wrote: 93 Points
Drunk at Oak with lots of clarets and steaks...decanted approx2 hours, lighter color, red fruit nose with a little woody cedar. smooth into the mouth , very round and well balanced mix. still showing red fruits but evolving. med finish, have had several bottles of this over last 18mos and still seems like a great value aged claret
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1/26/2008 - gsquireh wrote: 94 Points
Degrezia, NYC (NYC): This 85 Cos exhibited more complexity than the 82 that I drank the week before at Panache in Ramsey, NJ. The wine gathered more nuance and character during the hour we leisurely drank it.The scent of black cherries wafted from the glass. The 85 had all the color purple of the 82 and then some.Tobacco, spice, and earth saturated this lovely scented and delicious wine. A classic Bordeaux on this evening.
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1/25/2008 - Miceri wrote:
Smoked nose - prune - slightly acid nose and taste; taste = nose - smoked and pruny. Good
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12/25/2007 - cweiss wrote:
Fully mature and not grossly falling apart, but I was disappointed by the lack of nose and complexity. Certainly not as good as a bottle a year ago from the same original case.
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12/4/2007 - Rupert wrote: flawed
Chateau Cos d'Estournel vertical (IOD, London): Brown, strange marmitey oxidising nose, light and indistinct - losing it. It's a couple of years since I last had one of these, but I'm pretty sure this was an unrepresentative bottle.
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10/21/2007 - P.A. Cross wrote: 93 Points
Nice bottle. Good richness and still showing plenty of life. Very nice spice box notes, and sweet candied character. Tobacco and leather notes with a touch of apple skin. Earth and soil notes. Very clean and polished but complex. Very introspective and thought provoking wine. Enjoyable. Drank from a magnum.
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10/9/2007 - abbulf wrote:
Bordeaux at Per Gørans house (Stamerbakken, Bergen, Norway): Fruity nose with plums and black currant. Delicious. The most primary nose of the flight, but also the most complex. A bit sweeter than the two others. On the palate it is fantastic. Fruity, great balance. In great shape and drinking very good now.
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10/9/2007 - Gregory Dal Piaz wrote: 90 Points
Learning about Bordeaux with the Astorettes; 10/8/2007-10/10/2008 (Cafe Loup): This opens very herbaceously with a gentle touch of cotton candy, a bit of peppery spice and subtle oak. In the mouth it offers up a gently aged sweetness balanced by good acidity with no tannin to speak of. The midpalate is a touch diffuse at first but this ultimately grows on you with it's layered delicacy and gentle nature. At peak or maybe in gentle decline. 2007-2011
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8/20/2007 - reichken wrote: 93 Points
Sunday Dinner @ The Oak (Notting Hill, London)
dark color but very clean...a little barney on the nose but still aromas of dark fruit, very smooth in the mouth , well balanced and a nice mix of primary and secondary flavors. long finish...i think this wine can go for 5-7 more years
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8/6/2007 - kevin h wrote: 92 Points
Deep, powerful aromas of cassis, meat and earth. To taste a rather beefy wine, packs some power, and quite a tarry quality - still too young? Impressive wine with years of life left but in a big, slightly rustic style that is not a particular favourite.
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6/2/2007 - Hank Gillespie wrote:
The Wine Summit 2007: Château Cos d'Estournel - Saturday, June 2, 2007 - afternoon: deep mahogany colour – wide amber/caramel rim; broad mix of roasted nuts – tobacco – spice – chocolate caramel and dark berry fruit coming through in the bouquet; warm, black currant jam in the flavours; excellent balance, although the tannins do show in the fruit driven finish.
This was much better at dinner on Saturday – seemed more harmonious – felt the frame held the fruit better. Partnered with Jurassie, Vigneron and Marbier cheeses it proved to be another outstanding pairing.
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2/19/2007 - joshbryer wrote:
20 minute decant, no formal notes. Very nice but not a knockout wine. Well balanced on the nose and palate, still some structure left but tannins are fairly well resolved. Supple and classic in the mouth, probably best to drink the rest over the next 5-8 years. I'd very happily drink this any time.
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2/17/2007 - baja wrote: 90 Points
Had 2 bottles of this after a Chianti Tasting at Dans house. I took no formal notes so this TN is by memory. The corks were in perfect shape. This was a decant and pour, little sediment, great color for a 22yr old wine with only the very slightest fading on the rim, the nose was all classic Bordeaux, medium bodied with very nice fruit, this drank like pure silk, as elegant as a wine can be however it lacked any real excitement, very lovely finish, a true lady. 90.
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2/1/2007 - Jaco2112 wrote: 95 Points
A wonderful bottle. Tannins mild, fruit subdued, big in the mouth.
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1/9/2007 - Wine Bill wrote: 91 Points
Full bodied, very dark, with even some purple in the overall carmine colour. Very complex nose, with horse stable scents. Power, but so beautiful. It lacks subtlety, but I love this wine.
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1/6/2007 - jkoenen wrote: 89 Points
Bordeaux 1989 (and the rest...) @ Peter V. (Netherlands): Modest nose, slightly foursquare on the palate. But typical and affable. Cigarbox, ceder, red fruit. 17/20
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12/16/2006 - Old Claret wrote: 92 Points
Opened with the Russells at Lavandou. Au pointe! Tasted exactly how mature Cos in a good vintage should taste. But not Ann’s faborite wine.
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10/3/2006 - cweiss wrote:
Now soft and even silky. Nothing primary remains, but holding together as a very nice example of mature Bordeaux.
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7/30/2006 - Rupert wrote: 90 Points
Still quite dark for a mature wine, some spice, full bodied, sweet fruit, tasted right bank - very good easy claret, but not exciting
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7/1/2006 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Southern Nights #1 (@ PVa): Beautiful wine with creamy cassis, beautiful acidity and round tannin. Ready now and still a good future.
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5/15/2006 - D. Fulton wrote: 89 Points
Notes of bell pepper, graphite, good tart acidity, and slightly woody notes, especially on the finish. Tasted blind.
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5/3/2006 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points
Blind 1985 Bordeaux vs. CA (Cabernet) Tasting (Chicago IL): Blind 85 Bordeaux vs. CA tasting. Bright black fruit on nose. Still fresh and charming, this bottle was entirely fruit-driven today. Tannin niceyl integrated, good energy, but there didn't seem to be much interesting nuance to this wine tonight.
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1/1/2006 - winefool wrote: 93 Points
Medium red/purple with forward aroma of clove and anise and red fruit with a hint of briar. Medium bodied w/good red fruit and a spicy finish. Also shades of pencil lead and anise. Very good. 93 points 2/02
From memory - rich deep dark purple. Nice aroma of graphite and blackcurrant. Rich on the palate. Still drinking very well with a long life ahead. may have picked up a point or so ? 4/05
Full red. Awesome nose of briar red fruit and pencil lead. Lovely rich ripe black fruit. Still a bit tight. 93-94 pts. 1/06
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12/3/2005 - Burgundy Al wrote: 90 Points
Tasting. Shows nice balance between primary and secondary flavors. Good structure and acidity provides an excellent backbone. Not the most intense fruit remaining but works well with everything else in the wine. Good energy on finish shows off fruit and spice well.
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11/12/2005 - dk_lulu wrote:
Opened 3 hours before drinking and left in the bottle, with no decanting (the techgnique recommended by Francois). The nose and the taste were of concentrated black and red fruits, a mixture of fresh and stewed. Very thick, almost inky in texture, with noticable spice, and without the characteristic Cos earth. Deep extended finish, qith good complexity. A lovely wine, but I never would have guessed it was Cos. Perhaps typical for very ripe vintages?
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8/21/2005 - dbg wrote:
not as good as any earlier bottles, fruit faded, possibly oxidized
from poor cork seal, wine stained entire length of cork in 1 quadrant
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7/15/2005 - Mlermontov wrote: 91 Points
Roy in NYC part 1: "The Brothers" at Tribeca (Tribeca Grill): another nice claret - but no stars here. simple and delicious. i wish i had a case of this for nice dinners at home with my wife. lovely but no fireworks.
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6/18/2005 - la turque wrote: 94 Points
A softer bottle. As beautiful as before. At its peak.
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6/3/2005 - la turque wrote: 95 Points
Several hours in the decanter. A beautiful, voluptuous wine, with great structure, firm but soft tannins, balanced acidity and good fruit. This wine has a long life ahead of it. Thick and viscous, with a black core and some brick on the rim. An awesome mouthful of wine, with cedary, lead pencil and red berry tones. With time, the wine became more jammy and showed some stewed fruit. Delicious.
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2/18/2005 - cassetta wrote: 94 Points
Popped and poured. Bright ruby with some bricking on the edge. Nose of minerals, lead pencil, and red berries. Medium bodied with minerals and cassis on the palate. Fully resolved tannins but still some nice structure. Purchased on release. 6th and last bottle. This wine always drank well. Slipping? Maybe, but still a nice wine IMO.
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1/3/2005 - mnh wrote:
Medium ruby. Beautiful nose. Great balance and complxity. At peak
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10/24/2004 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
This elegantly styled wine offers a lot of charm. Plums, tobacco, Asian spice and forest floor aromas tempt you. Light in style and fully mature, it's a softer style of COS.
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10/19/2004 - MRichman wrote:
David Wainwright's Cos Vertical, 1985 Horizontal (Le Cirque): Smooth, chocolatey. Full, complex. Some tight tannins. A little tough.
B
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5/3/2003 - Burgundy Al wrote: 88 Points
Wine tasting. Big black fruit on nose and palate. Fruit flavors seem somewhat obscured today by the wine's big and burly tannins, which give a harshness on the finish, almost a sense of bitterness. Perhaps this just needs time, I'd give any more bottles until 2010 or later.
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4/6/2003 - Henman wrote:
N: potatocellar,a little barnyard.
P: smooth,pleasant,nicely balanced.Fruit faded away.
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2/28/2003 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasting of four 1985 Bordeaux blind, second place, nose of earth, baking chocolate, cedar, leather, and a touch of sweatsox, very round, rich fruit on the palate, inky tasting, lovely supple fruit, great medium/long finish with high acid and small amount of soft tannins suggest three years ageing will improve the score.
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4/27/2002 - mnh wrote:
Medium ruby, great complex nose. Very complex, good structure, great fruit and finish.
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1/25/2002 - peteng wrote:
stramt o svårtillgängligt
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9/30/2001 - rmcnees wrote: 93 Points
(RC 93) Very refined and polished - a robust nose filled with ripe blackberry and current. This is a deep and complex wine that has a long and chewy aftertaste.
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5/4/2001 - mnh wrote:
Deep Ruby color, ripe fruit nose with mineral elements, mouthfilling fruit with strong mineral rusty accent, very typical for st estephe and the vintage. At its peak now
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6/28/2000 - Marc wrote: 98 Points
Cos d'Estournel 1985 - This was an exceptional showing for this bottle.
The wine seems to be at its plateau of maturity. still vibrant and fruity
but with great complexity and length. lots of cedar and tobacco.
great curranty fruit. highly complex. for me, close to perfect. 98pnts
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4/1/2000 - mnh wrote:
Has evolved to greatness now. Should hold for awhile
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1/30/1999 - peteng wrote:
stramt o svårtillgängligt
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10/16/1998 - dbg wrote:
closed, has lost its youthful exuberance but has not yet developed
the tertiary complexities of an aged Bordeaux. Wait another 5 years.
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4/25/1998 - dbg wrote:
dark red, nose of earthy forest floor, cassis, opens over an hour to
show chocolate, mocha, coffee, brighter fruit but less deep than the
'85 Dominus, nice finish
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12/1/1996 - cos65 wrote:
some bottle stink which blew off. Nice,
****
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10/25/1996 - peteng wrote:
vinprovn; något blekt
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11/4/1995 - rekkie58 Likes this wine: 95 Points
an absolute winner, discrete tannins, young color, complex nose, red fruit, cocoa, licorice, spice, long finish, powerful, virile
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2/1/1995 - mnh wrote:
ripe fruit soft tannins. Wonderful tar nose. Breath 1 hour. Will evolve.
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8/2/1994 - dbg wrote:
still fantastic
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3/27/1993 - Marc wrote:
With J for 30th birthday at Roxborough Bistro - essence of cabernet sauvignon/bordeaux. Hold next bottle till 1998. Compleetly unevolved - but still forward, fragrant and superb.
Every other bottle drunk until 2009 has been astonishing - I wish I had more of these!
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3/27/1992 - ronphillips Likes this wine: 95 Points
Nearly identical notes for this and the 1986 vintage. !986 was a little deeper and has more aging potential, but I rate both wines at 95. Very deep purple color, nose of ripe blackberries/blueberry. Extremely ripe and fruity!! Terrific (both vintages) with grilled filet mignon and twice baked potatoes. Not enough superlatives to describe how wonderful these wines are/were. Great finish with long lasting aftertaste!!
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2/29/1992 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 90 Points
At home at dinner with K, Miranda, Cynthia, Steve, Kay, Laird, and Jack (roast). Gorgeous very dark ruby color. Complex nose of dark chocolate and roast coffee. Very feminine and "Bordeaux"-like, initially especially. Pretty wine on the palate, still with some bitter tannin in the finish, but has definitely come around and is nearing its peak of drinkability. Fine wine. 5-11-16-8: 90/100.
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1/22/1992 - dbg wrote:
dark purple color, good legs, intense fruity nose with scents
of berries, leather, maybe a hint of chocolate, ripe lush fruity taste
with soft tannins, hint of leather carried throught to the palate,
long smooth finish, one of the best wines I've ever h
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12/4/1991 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 88 Points
With K and Miranda at home at dinner (pizza). Attractive dark ruby color. Has legs. Nose is nice. Has a "roasted" character. Rich, smoky, ripe fruit. More aromatic than in previous tastings, so far as I recall. Flavors are a tad restrained and closed, but it is a big wine, well-balanced and quite tannic still. Long. Rough and coarse at the finish, though. Quite a disappointment after all I have heard and read about this wine. 5-11-15-7: 88/100.
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11/8/1990 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 90 Points
With BLR at home skipping work. Good dark ruby color, all the way to the rim. Good coffee nose. On the palate, very nice, much more forthcoming than the nose. Nice, with an extraordinarily long and complex finish. Excellent bottle, in need of time. 5-10-17-8: 90/100.
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7/15/1990 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 91 Points
At home. Medium dark ruby. Fine color. Good depth. Nose shows loads of fruit. Concentrated. Actually smells of merlot. Absolutely fabulous palate, very, very complex and concentrated, with just layers and layers of flavors. Gorgeous blackberry fruit. Long and lasting. A very nice wine. Lives up to its reputation. 5-11-17-8: 91/100.
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5/22/1990 - buckeye76 wrote: 94 Points
LICORICE AND LEATHER IN THE NOSE THOUGH MORE PRONOUNCED THAN THE '83. BLACK CHERRY FLAVORS, NICE COMPLEXITY. CONTINUALLY IMPROVED BUT CLEARLY NEEDS AT LEAST 5 YEARS TO REACH ITS PEAK. LONG FINISH
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10/18/1989 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 93 Points
With K at home at dinner. Dark ruby-purple, very attractive. Nose shows great potential, still largely closed. On the palate, very great. Extremely deep and concentrated, with blackcurrants and oak much in evidence. Incredible length, it goes on an on. Ripe, deep, and complex. Still not ready. 5-11-18-9: 93/100.
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