2010 Château Cos d'Estournel

Blended of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2010 Cos d'Estournel is deep garnet with a touch of purple and comes at you like a variegated scent wall with profound notions of blackcurrant cordial, chocolate-covered cherries, spearmint, cigar box and hoisin plus suggestions of praline, charcoal and espresso. Full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with layer upon layer of black and red fruits plus tons of savory accents and a firm backbone of ripe, grainy tannins, finishing very, very long, carrying great freshness and a beautiful spearmint lift. It’s a lot like the 2005 but with the volume turned up here. These 2010s are truly locked in a time capsule.