- Cos d’Estournel 2023 has been released at £1,440 per 12×75.
- William Kelley scored the wine a barrel range of 95-96 points, calling it ‘a contemporary classic in the making’.
- Buyers looking for value might want to consider the 2018 and 2019 vintages.
As part of this year’s Bordeaux En Primeur campaign, Cos d’Estournel 2023 has been released at €114 per bottle ex-négociant, down 38.7% on the 2022 release (€186 per bottle).
It is being offered by the international trade for £1,440 per 12×75, a 35.5% decrease on the 2022’s opening price (£2,232 a case).
At this price, buyers looking for value may want to consider back vintages such as the 2018 and 2019 vintages. See more pricing analysis below.
Cos d’Estournel has secured a spot in the last 6 editions of the Liv-ex Power 100. In 2023, the brand ranked 28th.
Critical response
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW (The Wine Independent) awarded the wine a barrel score of 95-97+ points. She describes ‘energetic notes of cassis, wild blueberries, and fresh juicy raspberries pop from the glass, giving way to underlying hints of rose oil, black pepper, and anise’.
Jane Anson describes notes of ‘cocoa bean, liquorice, espresso, chocolate and exceptional chewiness on the tannins’ awarding a score of 97 points.
William Kelley (The Wine Advocate) gave a barrel score of 95-96 points. According to him ‘a lighter touch with extraction that has delivered more sensuality and harmony without the loss of any of the estate’s signature power and authority’.
According to Antonio Galloni (Vinous), the 2023 is ‘fabulous’ and ‘has so much to offer’. He awarded it 96-98 points.
Neal Martin (Vinous) described the wine as ‘sumptuous but very well focused, almost a lesson in how less can be more’ and gave it a score of 94-96 points.
Pricing Analysis
While today’s release comes at a discount to last year’s, it remains one of the more expensive vintages available on the market. There are options available in back vintages for buyers interested in value opportunities.
At a discount of 21.5% to today’s release, the 96-point 2018 vintage may present reasonable value. It last traded at £1,170, down 34.1% on its original release price of £1,776. The wine received a 98-point score from Antonio Galloni, his joint-highest of the past decade.
The 2019 vintage, receiving a score of 98 points from both Galloni and Neal Martin, is available at a market price of £1,160 and may also be of interest.
Although coming in at a 15.3% premium to today’s release, the 2016 vintage received a coveted 100-point score from both Neal Martin and Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW. It last traded at £1,770, 26.4% above its original release price of £1,400.
The 94-point 2008 vintage, now entering its drinking window, is available at a 23.6% discount to today’s release. For further pricing information on earlier back vintages of Château Cos d’Estournel and other similar wines, consult our ready-made Left-Bank list in List Studio.
Other releases
Cos d’Estournel’s second label, Pagodes de Cos 2023, was released today for £396 per 12×75.
Cos d’Estournel Blanc 2023 was also released today for £1,440 per 12×75.
Our Bordeaux En Primeur 2023 page contains everything you need to know about this year’s campaign. You can also sign up for our daily En Primeur email alerts using the form below.
Liv-ex analysis is drawn from the world’s most comprehensive database of fine wine prices. The data reflects the real time activity of Liv-ex’s 620+ merchant members from across the globe. Together they represent the largest pool of liquidity in the world – currently £100m of bids and offers across 20,000 wines.
