The 1998 Cos d'Estournel is a medium-bodied wine with a vibrant ruby color. It showcases charming herb-tinged blackberry and cherry fruit, offering a pleasant, appealing profile. While the wine's mid-palate is slightly lighter, it brings a touch of sweetness with a balanced acidity on the finish. There's a subtle complexity, with some animal notes and a faint touch of greenness, but these don't overshadow the wine's overall harmonious character. It's an enjoyable, well-crafted wine, best consumed through 2014, offering a satisfying experience with a sense of finesse.

The Wine Advocate | RP 87
Published: Apr 21, 2000
Drink: 2000-2008

Forty percent of the harvest made it into this flattering, delicious wine with abundant charm and herb-tinged, blackberry and cherry fruit. A dark ruby color is accompanied by a medium-bodied, appealing St.-Estephe. A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot, it should drink well for 7-8 years. 

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 16
Published: Sep 10, 2013
Drink: 2005-2014

Bright ruby. Smells much more mature than the 1998 with some rather animal notes plus a certain soapiness. A little lack of fruit concentration on the mid palate. A little light and jagged and un-knit but with added sweetness somehow as well as some greenness underneath. Was there a lot of Merlot in the blend this year? Acidity comes in on the finish. Very cleverly put together but without the depth and nobility of some vintages.

Estournel.com

FASCINATING, OPULENT, VOLUPTUOUS
An invitation to travel.

Like a solitary adventurer who has sailed the seas, Cos d'Estournel initially appears secretive and intriguing. Then he slowly reveals himself. Step by step, with small touches, he evokes stories of distant cities, markets with a thousand secrets, joyful celebrations in warm stone villages, and women with voluptuous curves. The smells, colors, and flavors are gradually revealed, like happy memories. An elegant, fascinating charm, somewhere between restraint and unashamed sensuality.