87/100
3 Stars
Huon Hooke
The wine is still alive and good bottles would be fine, but this one is slightly musty and cork affected, which obscures its charms. The elegance of the wine still shows, especially on the palate, but it is probably a bit past its prime and the cork has not served it well.
Tasted: 28/10/2024
Drink: N/A
95 Points Robert Parker
Tasted 7 Times Since Bottling With Consistent Notes
Source: Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) by Robert M. Parker, Jr. January, 1994
92 Points Robert Parker
Tasted at the property, the 1986 Cos d'Estournel, which was aged in 90% new oak and is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, is a vintage that I had not tasted for a number of years. It has a healthy color, quite deep with just a thin bricking on the rim. The nose is quite intense, quite voluptuous for a 1986, perhaps blind I might have mistaken it for a 1985. Red plum, licorice and graphite, there is something rounded and sensual about this 1986—although it does not have the complexity of the greatest vintages of Cos d'Estournel. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, savory and almost meaty on the mouth, nicely balanced and then...BAM! There's a real spicy, black pepper kick on the finish originating from the Cabernet Sauvignon. It does not possess the structure or persistence of the greatest 1986s, rather a Claret that I know would just shine and complement dishes at the dinner table. Drinking perfectly now, this Cos d'Estournel has another 15-20 years to offer. Tasted July 2016.
Source: Robert Parker (Robert Parker Wine Advocate) by Neal Martin. December, 2016
Tasted 7 Times Since Bottling With Consistent NotesSource: Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) October, 1994 by Robert Parker
note: this bottle may seep a bit during shipping, which is normal for older or ullaged bottles