CHATEAU COS LABORY 5eme Grand Cru Classe, Saint-Estephe 2020 Bottle

Description

This 2020 Château Cos Labory offers classic Saint-Estèphe character—with ripe blackberry, plum, and cassis, complemented by hints of cedar and spice. It combines elegance and structure, with silky tannins and fresh acidity supporting a long, refined finish. Rich yet balanced, it’s ready to enjoy now but also has excellent aging potential, showcasing the depth and finesse of a great Bordeaux vintage.

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Cos Labory is one of the smallest of the Cru Classé châteaux in Bordeaux. This 5ème Cru Classé St-Estèphe property has been in the hands of the Audoy family since the beginning of the last century - today it is owned by Madame Cécile Audoy and managed by her son Bernard. The main part of the 18-hectare vineyard is a long, thin strip, located just to the west of Cos d'Estournel, with the rest being near Lafon Rochet.

The average age of the vines in the vineyard is 25 years and the wine is typically a blend of one third each of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with sometimes a small proportion of Petit Vedot. The grapes are fermented in enamel-lined concrete tanks and the wine is aged in small bariques (30-50% new) for 18 months. Cos Labory is never the most full-bodied of St-Estèphes, possibly due to the relatively high proportion of Cabernet Franc in the blend. However, the last 10 years have seen a move towards a more substantial style and the wines now are some of the best (and most sensibly priced) in St-Estèphe today.

THE WINE ADVOCATE (91-93)
Drink Date: 2025 - 2043
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, 20th May 2021
Displaying a deep purple-black color, the 2020 Cos Labory offers classic cassis, ripe plums and kirsch notes, followed by hints of pencil shavings, red roses and damp soil. The medium-bodied palate has great tension and nice, ripe, grainy tannins supporting the tightly wound red and black fruits, finishing on a lingering mineral note.

JAMES SUCKLING 92-93 Points
16 Apr, 2021 – Blueberry and blackberry character with salt and mineral undertones. It’s medium-bodied with firm, racy tannins and a long finish. Well crafted.

DECANTER 90 points
Tasted by Jane Anson
Charming, with an unfussy and welcoming focus on blackberry and black cherry fruits, a little soft through the mid palate, but with plenty to recommend for early-to-medium drinking. Not hugely intense although there are plenty of earthy tannins on display, a little surprising when you see the 30 hl/ha yield. Tasted twice.
Drinking Window 2026 - 2043

JANCIS ROBINSON 15.5points
Drink: 2027 - 2038
Full bottle 1,295 g. Cask sample taken 2 April. 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot. 50% new oak.
Purplish crimson. Unusually warm, rather sweaty nose. Much looser with less obvious tannin and more green astringency than many other 2020s. Lightish and a bit chewy and stringy. Has the freshness of the commune – perhaps rather too much so.