Cos d'Estournel 1993

A word of admiration and praise is in order for Bruno Prats. One of St.-Estephe's most forward thinking producers, Prats is never content with merely making outstanding wine. Over the last few years he has improved Cos d'Estournel, already one of the great wines of Bordeaux, by eliminating any filtration at bottling, and replacing the standard paper label with one made of plastic so it will not disintegrate in damp, humid cellars. Additionally, the quality of his wines in such difficult vintages as 1992 and 1993 has been remarkable. Readers should also note that a second wine, the beautifully packaged Les Pagodes de Cos, has been implemented with the 1994 vintage. It appears to be a fine second wine. One of the most successful Medocs of the vintage, Cos d'Estournel's 1993 exhibits an opaque dark purple color, and a heady, sweet, pure, blackcurrant bouquet that roars from the glass. With surprising richness, fat, and glycerin, tasters would never suspect that this medium-bodied, elegant yet authoritatively-flavored wine emerged from such a difficult vintage. The wine's low acidity and roundness guarantees 12-14 years of drinkability. This is a splendid success in an irregular vintage. Cos d'Estournel is clearly producing wines that are often of first-growth potential.Drink 1997-2011

This wine should turn out to be one of the most successful wines of the vintage. The saturated ruby/purple color is followed by a pure, sweet nose of black fruits (cherries and cassis), abundant notes of smoky new oak, and an intriguing floral component. There is excellent concentration, fine density, and an expansive, medium to full-bodied palate, with a surprising degree of fleshiness and suppleness. Although moderately tannic, this is one 1993 Medoc where the wine's flesh, chewy texture, and flavor extraction dominate the tannin. No doubt Cos d'Estournel's high Merlot content (40%) has given this wine more fat than many of its peers. Look for the 1993 Cos to be drinkable within 4-5 years of its release, and last for 15-20 years. Readers should also note that beginning with the 1994 vintage, Cos d'Estournel's second wine will no longer be Marbuzet. It will be called Pagodes de Cos.