Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 30/06/2004 A beautiful effort, the 2001 Cos d’Estournel (65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot) exhibits a poised, noble bouquet of black currants, cedar, spice box, and licorice. A hint of truffles emerges as it sits in the glass. Medium-bodied with sweet fruit (mostly black) and nicely integrated wood, it builds incrementally in the mouth, ending with a 50-second finish. Drink this stylish, restrained yet substantial claret over the next 15+ years.
Made in an elegant, approachable style without the blockbuster depth and meat found in the finest vintages (2000 and 1996), this is a dark plum/garnet/ruby-colored, seductive, evolved, delicious 2001. Aromas of black olives, cedar, cassis, damp earth, and licorice, medium to full body, soft tannin, and an easy-going personality suggest consumption over the next 12-14 years is warranted
One of the top successes of the vintage, this blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot was harvested between October 8 and 24. The late harvest ensured perfect ripeness as evidenced by the sweet bouquet of black cherries, lead pencil shavings, cassis and subtle barbecue smoke. Well-balanced with good acidity, ripe tannins, medium to full body and a layered mouthfeel, this excellent 2008 can be drunk now and over the next 15+ years. Wine Advocate.May, 2011
The sexy, dark ruby/purple-tinged 2006 l’Evangile achieved 14% natural alcohol, as high as any of the great vintages at this estate. Abundant amounts of dark raspberry and black cherry fruit intertwined with sweet plums and hints of figs as well as spring flowers jump from the glass of this medium to full-bodied, fleshy, supple-textured, silky wine. Drink it now or cellar it for 15-20 years.
Big brooding colour – black almost to the rim. A sumptuous nose of rich, ripe, generous fruit, the palate too is ultra-succulent. Exhibits a bottomless wealth of flavours which are supported by perfectly balanced tannins and acidity. Clearly one of the wines of the vintage. A powerfully built st-estèphe yet in unison and harmony.
The 1996 is more masculine on the nose with graphite and tobacco, a touch of sea salt developing with time, an estuarine tincture that is refreshing and speaks of its place. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, a saline touch on the entry, much more closed than the nose, obdurate as usual, quite austere towards the cedar and tobacco and mint dominated finish.
The 2004 Mouton-Rothschild was the first vintage for Philippe Dhalluin, who was so successful in persuading the late Philippine de Rothschild to institute a more strict selection with respect to Mouton-Rothschild. The outstanding 2004 exhibits delicious notes of cedarwood, Christmas fruitcake, blackcurrants and toast. The wine possesses outstanding concentration, medium to full body, excellent purity, hints of forest floor and underbrush, and sweet, velvety tannin. It is on a fast evolutionary track, so consume this over the next 10-15 years.
Rich, sweet chocolate flavors balance with equally sweet blackberries in this opulent wine. This ripeness goes right through to the heart of the concentrated texture, even the tannins sharing in the generosity. This is a delicious wine, but wait for five years and it will be even better.
