Chateau Cos d'Estournel 2000Blended of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2000 Cos d'Estournel is deep garnet in color with a touch of brick and sporting a lot of tertiary evolution on the nose. It leaps from the glass with opulent sandalwood, Chinese five spice, cigar box and leather scents over a core of prunes, baked cherries, dried mulberries and eucalyptus plus a touch of potpourri. Medium bodied, the palate is laden with fragrant fruitcake and

as it is the second of two ethereal wines that will put the estate right at the top of the Saint Emilion tree

Cabernet Sauvignon 50%

but (as usual) it just seems to do everything right

garrigue and new leather with a core of cassis

The 2012 Clos du Marquis has a very intense bouquet

Tasted at the chateau

poached quince

missing the mineral tension of the finest white Bordeaux such as Domaine de Chevalier or Malartic-Lagravière Blanc

it will be even better with some bottle age

cedar and a hint of licorice

This is notably finer in the mouth with a relatively sophisticated palate impression to the overtly powerful and intense big-bodied flavors that combine refinement with muscle on the impressively persistent and well-balanced finale

finely tuned citrus fruit married with Clementine and yellow plum