Château Cos d'Estournel, Ch. Cos d`Estournel 1996

94 / 100 Robert Parker
Tasted at the château, the 1996 Cos d'Estournel was aged in 65% new oak (unlike the 1995 which was 100%) and is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot. It has a straight down the line, intense and focused, graphite and melted tar bouquet. It is almost Pauillac in style, no surprise given its proximity. The palate is medium-bodied with fresh acidity, finer tannin than the 1986 Cos d'Estournel tasted alongside, but sharing those same leitmotifs of black pepper and sea salt. I like the nonchalance of this Cos d'Estournel. At 20 years it is not an ostentatious wine, not determined to go out and impress, but its nuance, stylishness and classicism grow on you. Its virtues seem to register only after you swallow the wine and find yourself tempted back for more. Excellent. Tasted July 2016.
227, The Wine Advocate

90 / 100 Wine Spectator
Lots of tobacco, berry and spice character on the nose. Light herbal undertone. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a caressing, pretty-textured finish. Chewy. I would wait a little. 1995 looks better to me now. Outstanding but not as exciting as I remember.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2008. 26,000 cases made.
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17 / 20 Jancis Robinson
At first there was a slightly green note on the nose but then on the palate the fruit was rich, dense and rather glorious. As it opened up in the glass I got the slightest suggestion of brett on the nose, followed by a hint of ashes. It's pretty good stuff but not nearly as thrilling as the 1989 served alongside it.
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