1998 Cos d'Estournel
By Chateau Cos d'Estournel
1998 Cos d'Estournel from Chateau Cos d'Estournel, St-Estephe, Bordeaux
Peer into the patina of time with the 1998 Cos d'Estournel from Chateau Cos d'Estournel, an illustrious embodiment of St-Estephe's grandeur. As we explore this vintage, investors and connoisseurs alike will uncover the narrative of a season defined by its climatic oscillations—a narrative etched into the character of this commendable vintage.
Investing in Bordeaux's Climatic Ballet
The 1998 vintage in Bordeaux presented vignerons with a test of prowess as they pirouetted through a year that began with concerning precipitation but culminated in an unexpectedly dry and sunny ripening period. This climatic ballet resulted in a staggered flowering, prompting diligent selection and a yield reflective of terroir sensitivity. For investors, such vintages signify opportunities; where nature's quirks facilitate uniqueness, the 1998 Cos d'Estournel shines.
A Vintage Echoing Time and Terroir
In my tasting notes, the 1998 Cos d'Estournel distinctly flexes its twenty-plus years of maturation. The palate is serenaded with a mélange of tertiary flavours—truffle, forest floor and cigar box—that waltz harmoniously with the persistent blackcurrant and plum notes. This wine from Chateau Cos d'Estournel captures an essence of St-Estephe terroir magnificently, offering a firm structure softened by time's gentle hand.
The tannins, once robust and assertive, now embrace a suppleness that makes the 1998 vintage both accessible yet earnestly complex—an alluring juxtaposition for the fine wine investor.
In closing, venturing into the depths of this 1998 offering from Chateau Cos d'Estournel is to embark on an oenological odyssey. The climatic vagaries of the year imparted a distinctive identity to the wine, one that has unfurled beautifully with age and merits its esteemed place in a discerning portfolio. So here stands the 1998 Cos d'Estournel: a tale of meteorological caprice woven into a tapestry of vinous splendour, positioning itself as a judicious choice for those vested in the art form that is Bordeaux investment.
Market price (USD)
$1,920.00
12x75cl
Highest score
88
POP score
196.25
Scores and tasting notes
Bottled in April, 2000, this elegant, stylish, graceful wine is an attractive, dark ruby/purple-colored effort with subtle notes of sweet oak, licorice, herbs, and black fruits. While not massive, it is medium-bodied and ripe, with sweet tannin. Forty-eight percent of the production was utilized in this blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2018.
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 22 April 2001
Tasted at the Cos d'Estournel dinner at St. John. The nose is quite smoky and dusty, with a touch of green pepper, lacking a little vigour like the '96. Very masculine, as is the palate that is foursquare, with dusty tannins, cigar box and blackberry leaf. It is very Saint Estephe with its earthy finish, although it could do with more depth and length. Noticeable salty tang just on the aftertaste. Mediocre for this estate. Drink now-2014. Tasted March 2009.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Nov 2009