Cos d'Estournel St-Estèphe 1996

98 points Jane Anson (Decanter): "A brilliant year for Left Bank Bordeaux. This was stubborn in its youth and took time to open, but now stands as one of the great all-time vintages of Cos, in my opinion. It delivers still, at 25 years old, just utterly delicious, with complex slate, pencil lead, graphite, undergrowth, black truffle flavours and a crushed-mint finish. It is still juicy, with perfectly integrated fine tannins and a ton of personality. 65% new oak. Drinking Window: 2021-2036. (May 2021)"

94 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Saturated deep ruby. Ineffable aromas of black fruits, minerals, licorice and Havana tobacco. Rich, dense and thick; powerful but harmonious. Layered texture over a strong backbone. Very long on the palate, with thoroughly ripe, noble cabernet tannins. Superb. (May/Jun 1999)"

93 points Robert Parker: "Made from 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot, this is a huge, backward wine. The 1996 possesses an opaque purple color, as well as pure aromatics consisting of cassis, grilled herbs, coffee, and toasty new oak. Massive in the mouth, and one of the most structured and concentrated young Cos d'Estournels I have ever tasted, this thick, structured, tannic wine has closed down significantly since bottling. It requires 7-8 years of cellaring, and should last for 30-35 years. It is a fabulous Cos, but patience is required. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2030. Drink: 2006-2030. (Apr 1999)"

18.5/20 points The World of Fine Wine: "Very deep red, with just a hint of maturity but still has great depth of color. Rich, smoky, toasty nose that shows some evolution, a light savory character and tobacco tones. On the palate it is rich and sleek, with sweet berry fruit, light mocha notes, considerable elegance and lift, so that it soars out of the glass. Far less evolved on the palate, concentrated but not extracted, graceful and very harmonious, showing excellent balance and restraint. Has purity of flavor, ample complexity, and length, and although accessbile there is no hurry to drink this. (Issue #21; 2008)"

Panos Kakaviatos (The World of Fine Wine): "(65% CS, 35% M; 65% new oak). I loved the cooler blue-fruit aspect, along with the cedar, sandalwood spice, and leather, which proved irresistible. This was perhaps the most subtle of the three wines in its flight, but it was not without power and had a lingering finish. (Issue 52; 2016)"