2016 at Cos d’Estournel
In a year characterized by highly unusual, deeply contrasted weather conditions, the role of the men and women of Cos d’Estournel proved primordial.
The estate experienced record-breaking rainfall between January and June. Bud break occurred in March in a homogenous fashion. Appearing at exactly the right moment, the first buds were a good omen for the rest of the growing season.
In early June, we were blessed with several days of beautiful weather, which brought about rapid, even flowering throughout the vineyard.
The estate’s grape berries soaked up the sun’s rays during the clement, warm weather that became a constant in late June. After so much rain, however, the extremely hot weather required constant vigilance, to adjust and adapt techniques used in the vineyard. But as the summer progressed, nature found a certain balance, as rare periods of precious rainfall tempered the sun’s ardor.
The berries on the vine began changing color around August 10. Veraison is a crucial moment in the growing season, as it often determines when harvest will take place. We experienced significant temperature differences between day and night, always a good sign in late summer. Nevertheless the team continued to stand watch, fine-tuning its methods to match even the slightest natural variations in the vineyard.
The vineyard was remarkably healthy in mid-September. Harvest took place under the most serene conditions.
Thanks to the ideal exposure of our terroir, the quality of our soils and our deeply rooted vine plants, our vineyard was able to adapt to even the most extreme weather conditions. The choices made in the vineyard throughout the year, coupled with our exceptional winemaking facilities, were essential to preserving the precious aromas of fruit in our wines and their unique signature, between balance, vivacity and freshness.
The 2016 Vintage at Cos d’Estournel
As our « en primeur » tastings come to a close, we are delighted to share some first impressions of this exceptional vintage, according to Dominique Arangoïts, Technical Director of Cos d’Estournel.
Cos d’Estournel 2016
« Cos d’Estournel 2016 is undeniably, immediately seductive. At once elegant and alluring, energetic and pure, it is an incredible, wonderfully harmonious vintage. »
In a year marked by extreme weather conditions, the choices and actions of our team in the vineyard and cellar were essential to determining the destiny of the 2016 vintage.
« The 2016 vintage is not at all the overripe wine one might have feared given the summer heat wave. Rather it is fresh and delicate, with refined tannins. Its wonderful palette of aromatic notes expresses itself progressively, reaching a magnificent depth and intensity. The 2016 vintage is a perfect balance of verve and silkiness, tension and delicacy, freshness and voluptuousness. »
It is a vintage with immense potential that will most certainly prove to be an exceptional Cos d’Estournel.
Pagodes de Cos 2016
« Since creating Pagodes de Cos in 1994, our vision has always revolved around creating a wine with its own personality and style. It is not meant to be a simpler or more accessible version of our Grand Vin; rather, it is a wine that is grown on its own terroir, a blend of four grape varieties cultivated on deeply rooted vines averaging 35 years of age. »
Pagodes de Cos expresses a singular version of meticulous craftsmanship. From one year to the next, its story is one of pleasure and enjoyment. Silky and voluptuous, the 2016 vintage is enchanting in its own right; it is a wine of endless charm and precision, offering a long finish with refined, complex tannins that bring a certain structure to a highly promising vintage.
Cos d’Estournel Blanc 2016
Were it not for the quality of our terroir and a perfect mastery of winemaking techniques, the summer heat may have posed a serious threat to the harvest. The diversity of our soils and the natural breezes, coupled with extreme vigilance and rigorous selection of grapes, meant berries were able to ripen slowly and gently on the vine, preserving much-desired aromas of fruit and a certain level of acidity.
« The robe of the 2016 vintage has lovely green highlights. Precise and fresh, it offers notes of flint and lemon that play beautifully against a chalky, rich character on the palate. With a long and vibrant finish, it is truly a fabulous Cos d’Estournel Blanc, with remarkable aromatic intensity. »
Goulée by Cos d’Estournel 2016
Major investments over recent years in the vineyard where Goulée is grown are beginning to bear fruit. This is especially true of the Cabernet planted in 2012. It brings complexity and a lovely, supple structure to the wine, a nice counterpoint to the Merlot.
Located much further north than Cos d’Estournel, Goulée enjoyed the cooling effects of its proximity to the ocean during the exceptionally hot summer of 2016.
« The 2016 vintage is an explosion of aromas, with juicy notes of blackberry, raspberry and blueberry. Its spicy finish is contrasted against the fresh nuances of pine bark and flint brought by the Cabernet Sauvignon. On the palate, Goulée by Cos d’Estournel 2016 is round and full-bodied. Overall the 2016 vintage perfectly embodies the style of Goulée: enticing, generous and finely structured. »
