Chateau Cos d'Estournel St-Estèphe 2. Cru Classé 1996

Decanter

This has to be one of the wines of the vintage. More deft and cedary than the bigger boned 1986 vintage (also tasted), this is light delicate and elegant. Again, ink and spice on the nose, with stunning cedar and blackcurrant fruit with a touch of undergrowth, graphite and cigar box. Beautifully fresh with sublime melting tannins.

Verema

Great wine from Bordeaux. Color covered with orange rim. The nose with aromas of reduction that disappear quickly giving way to aromas of fruits, leather, ... The mouth is a delight, long.

Into Wine

This is fantastic. This is quite open and soft and semmingly at or near peak. Ruby/purple in color. The nose is very good with cassis, pencil lead, soy sauce, dust and a bit of cigar box. On the palate, it is even better. Not a full bodied as I was expecting but lean and strong nevertheless. Layers of cassis, tobacco and dried leaves. Waves of complexity. Juicy fruit and acidity. Great with food. Nice finish. I don't think this gets better but no hurry. Tasted: December 2017

Tom Lee - Notes from a wine enthusiast's cellar

Crimson in color with some bricking at the edge of the glass. 13% ABV. Room filling nose of red fruits, cedar, leather and cigar box. Medium body with strong acidity. Powerful and concentrated with substantial tannins. Cassis, currants, plums, tobacco leaf and earth on the palate. The finish is long and silky. The elegance of this wine is noteworthy and becomes more pronounced after several hours in the decanter. Compelling now, but this version of Cos from the burly ’96 vintage, will drink well for another decade. Tasted june 2020.

Adega Magazine

Composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot, aged in 18-month barrels in 60% new French oak barrels. Among the best vintages of the decade, it is incredibly dense and fruity, even with almost 20 years old, looking very young. Complex both on the nose and in the mouth, impresses with the depth and fine texture of its tannins, all in the midst of delicious acidity, plums, cassis, dried herbs, in addition to touches of graphite and cedar. Precise, intense and elegant. Tasted March, 2016

Tastingbook.com

Stephen Tanzer

Outer quote mark Saturated deep ruby. Ineffable aromas of black fruits, minerals, licorice and Havana tobacco. Rich, dense and thick; powerful but harmonious. Layered texture over a strong backbone. Very long on the palate, with thoroughly ripe, noble Cabernet tannins. Superb.

Robert Parker

A fabulous Cos d'Estournel, along with the 1995, the 1996 is the finest wine produced at this estate since the sumptuous 1990, and it represents the essence of Cos d'Estournel. From its saturated black/ruby/purple color, to its knock-out nose of Asian spices, licorice, tobacco-tinged cassis fruit, and plum-like jam, this full-bodied, extraordinarily pure wine will enjoy an immensely impressive future. Approximately 66% of the crop made it into the final blend, which includes a slightly higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon than usual (65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot). While the 1996 is similar to the 1986, the fruit and tannin in the former wine are sweeter and more abundant. It is a massive example of Cos, but neither heavy nor overbearing in view of its immense size. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2035.

Vivino