Ratings & Tasting Notes:
97 points Jeb Dunnuck
Review Date: 08/2018
I loved this bottle of 1982 Cos d’Estournel, and it was easily the best bottle I’ve had of this wine, which has always shown slightly tired and over the hill for me. It shows classic, even youthful notes of lead pencil, currants and saddle leather, was full-bodied, had beautiful depth of fruit, and a great, great finish, all pointing to a fully mature yet grand Saint Estephe.
96 points Decanter
Review Date: 09/2022
This wine is a lovely example of the potential and longevity of the 1982 vintage below the first growth level. Although it shows mature notes of cedar, smoke, and spice, this wine is still youthful and vigorous. The texture is firm yet silky – the tannins are resolved, yet there is still an impression of substance and impressive length here. Although it is mature now, this should easily hold another five to 10 years. (CC)
96 points Wine Advocate
Review Date: 12/2022
The 1982 Cos d’Estournel dominates Saint-Estèphe in this vintage (for my money, its leading competitor is Haut-Marbuzet, by the way). Remarkably youthful and saturated in appearance, it exhibits inviting aromas of sweet berry fruit, plums, licorice and pencil shavings, followed by a full-bodied, fleshy, lusty, almost unctuous palate of notable concentration and depth. Its fleshy core of fruit is still framed by sweet, powdery tannins. (WK)
95 points Vinous
Review Date: 10/2018
The 1982 Cos d’Estournel is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. I have always fallen for the aromatics of this 1982: roasted chestnut and a touch of aniseed that combines effortlessly with the melted red berry fruit, touches of tar developing with time. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, perhaps not quite as extravagant as it showed a few years ago, but there is genuine depth and grip here. There is that lovely savory, lightly spiced finish and a very persistent aftertaste that is thoroughly enjoyable after 36 years. This is a wonderful 1982 that will give pleasure for many more years. Tasted at the Cos d’Estournel vertical at the property. (NM)
Cult Wines International Notes:
Château Cos d’Estournel is the undisputed “Super Second” of Saint-Estèphe, a property defined by its exotic history and avant-garde spirit. Founded in 1811 by Louis-Gaspard d’Estournel, known as the “Maharajah of Saint-Estèphe,” the estate is famous for its unique Oriental-inspired architecture featuring pagodas and intricate carvings. Louis-Gaspard was a pioneer who famously shipped his wines to India and back, believing the sea voyage improved their quality. In 1855, the estate was officially classified as a Second Growth, and it has since maintained a reputation for producing wines that rival First Growths in power and longevity. By 1982, the property was under the dedicated stewardship of Bruno Prats, who oversaw a period of technical modernization that allowed the estate to fully capture the potential of its unique, south-facing gravelly ridges overlooking the Gironde estuary.
The 1982 growing season is legendary in Bordeaux, marking a turning point toward the modern era of riper, more opulent wines. Following a mild winter and a perfect spring, the vines enjoyed an ideal flowering period in June, signaling a massive and healthy crop. The summer was characterized by consistent, glorious heat and sunshine, allowing the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to reach a level of phenolic ripeness rarely seen in the post-war era. Harvesting at Cos d’Estournel began in mid-September under blue skies, yielding fruit with incredible concentration, supple tannins, and high sugar levels. The 1982 vintage is celebrated as a masterpiece for the estate, marrying the traditional, muscular structure of Saint-Estèphe with a lush, exotic fruit profile that has allowed the wine to remain a benchmark of vitality and decadence for over four decades.
Bottle Size:
750 mL
Storage History:
Always stored on its side in a climate-controlled cellar.
Condition:
Outstanding condition.
Please note: The condition of the bottle you will receive is accurately reflected by the one shown in the images.
