Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

8.9

Tasting group. My ranking 4th, group ranking 2nd. Spice. Meat. Mineral. — 3 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.4

Tasting group. My 1st, group 1st. Stones. Stone fruit, canned peaches. Hay. Full feel, tart balance. — 5 years ago

LM Segal

9.7

A standout that got better with every sip. Rich and velvety. Bacon fat and smoked meats. Seamless. For most of the group this edged out a punching-above-its-weight ‘04 Pegau. Perfect extraction and pronounced woodsy tannins suggest 10-20 more years of evolution. — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Monthly WTF guys blind tasting group. This month was our annual, and famed, Left Bank vs Right Bank theme. All wines served blind as usual. Started off with a Rosé and a champagne. Great night.

The first of two GPLs from the evening. Lots of saddle leather mixed with ripe fruit on the nose. Underripe black-cherry on the palate with an herbal dominants finish. Drink now. Thanks @Will Adams . — 6 years ago

with Andrew, Jack and 6 others

Shay A

9.2

Monthly WTF wine group. Special event this month as Ben provided all ‘80s Napa cabs. A few of us chipped in and provided some whites/bubbly.

Toasted Graham cracker, cassis, and even some old cedar wood. Structure was still in tact and young tasting. — 7 years ago

with Andrew, Will and 4 others

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Is there any meal better than steak (Ribeye) and well aged Claret? This is another 1991 Bordeaux experiment of mine. 1991 was a vintage with horrible frosts and a less than favorable growing season, right? A vintage critically panned. This is my 3rd recent 91 from a good producer. And again, it didn’t disappoint. Like 97 and 07, it’s better with the right bottle age than young. Magic evolution happened in the bottle way down the road. This 91 is in great form with a fair amount of life ahead of it. On the nose; a little ripe fruit funk, wonderful dark & lighter red cassis, ripe blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, plums, hues of blueberries, black raspberries, dry cranberries, vanilla, light cinnamon, rich, black turned earth, cedar, soft leather, dry stones, dry top soil, notes of dry herbs and fresh & dry red flowers. The body/palate is medium, round, ripe & still fresh. The tannins nearly completely resolved. Ripe, floral fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, plums, hues of blueberries, black raspberries, dry cranberries & half cooked rhubarb. Vanilla, light cinnamon, touch of clove & nutmeg, rich, black turned earth, cedar, soft leather, dry stones, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, notes of dry herbs, a little band-aid and fresh & dry red flowers. The acidity drips over the palate and the long, well balanced, still structured, nice tension, good length finish lasts over a minute. Again, love & appreciate the 12.5% alcohol. What a beauty with and without the steak. Next time you’re in your fine wine retail shop and see a quality producers 91 that’s been well stored, buy it and have it with a Ribeye. Photos of; their exotic Estate, Chateau interior, newer barrel room and their vines as viewed from the front of the Chateau that are across the road. Producer notes and history...Cos d’Estournel has a long distinguished history in the St. Estephe. Louis Gaspard d’Estournel, gave his name to the estate after founding in 1811. It did not take long before Cos d’Estournel became famous with wine lovers and royalty all over the world. In those early days, Cos d’Estournel did not sell through Negociants. The owner preferred selling his wine directly to his customers. In fact, Cos d’Estournel was exported to numerous countries across the globe, with a large portion of the production being sold to India. It was that connection to India that inspired much of the unique, east Indian design we see at Cos d’Estournel today. Cos d’Estournel was one of the first Bordeaux Chateaux’s to bottle, label and sell their own wine. This practice continued until the death of Louis Gaspard d’Estournel in 1852. If you’re at the property, the statue on the bench in the front courtyard is of the founder, Louis Gaspard d’Estournel. The Estate was then purchased by an owner that sold their wines on the Place de Bordeaux using the negociant system. If the Chateau was not selling their wines through the negociant system, it would never have been included in the 1855 Classification. Imagine that! So, it turned out to be a fortuitous decision. Cos d’Estournel was sold to the Charmolue family owners of the neighboring Estate of Chateau Montrose. They continued to own the estate until 1917, when it was bought by Fernand Ginestet. This purchase was the beginning of the next major step in the development of Cos d’Estournel. Decades later, the grandchildren of Fernand Ginestet, Jean-Marie Prats, Yves Prats and Bruno Prats took over ownership and management of Cos d’Estournel. In 1995, Bruno Prats sold the property to the Merlaut family, owners of the Taillan Group. The next era in the development of Cos d’Estournel took place in 2000, when Cos d’Estournel was bought by the industrious and wealthy Michel Reybier, who earned his fortune in the food industry. Michel Reybier hired the son of Bruno Prats, Jean-Guillaume Prats to manage Cos d’Estournel. Things further improved with the efforts of Jean-Guillaume Prats who helped design the most modern wine making at that time. A complete renovation of Cos d’Estournel took place in not only the wine making facilities and cellars, but in parts of the Chateau as well. While the wine making facilities are completely modern with their 100% gravity design, the outward appearance retained the original design and feeling that has always been a part of Cos d’Estournel. On October 15, 2012, Jean Guillaume Prats announced he was leaving Cos d’Estournel to join LVMH (Pichon Baron). Jean Guillaume Prats was replaced by Aymeric de Gironde. Following the departure of Aymeric de Gironde in 2017, the owner, Michel Reybier took over managing the Estate. What makes the remodel special is that the cellars of Cos d’Estournel are entirely operated by gravity. There are no pumps of any kind to force the wine. The purpose is to allow a gentleness to the wine and improve its purity and allow for the expression of their terroir. It set a new benchmark for cellars not only in the Left Bank, but in all of Bordeaux. Perhaps, the most inventive part of the cellars is the four 100 hectoliter lift tanks or wine elevators that replace the pumps used in the traditional pumping over and the racking off processes, which introduce air and often destabilize the marc. From the moment the grapes arrive, everything travels by the flow of gravity. Jean Guillaume Prats called this process a “pumpless pump over.” The 91 hectare vineyard of Cos d’Estournel is planted to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The vineyard is located extremely close to the border between Pauillac and Saint Estephe at the southern tip of the Saint Estephe. The Estate has very old Merlot vines as well, which date back more than 100 years. Part of the terroir is situated on the hill of Cos, which is at a high elevation for the Medoc at 20 meters. They also make a second wine called Pagodes de Cos. This is a great wine to buy in very good vintages. Especially, if your budget prohibits you from purchasing their first wine. — 8 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.3

5/2/21 Tasting group. My 2nd, group 2nd. Cherries. Leather. Very pretty. — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Monthly WTF group recap. Theme this month was “bring something special”. Normally we taste all of the wines blind, but we decided to do a relaxed night with amazing wines at a great restaurant. Spectacular evening!

I had the ‘16 about 4 months ago and found it to be more rich as this was slightly more mineral like in profile. It’s undoubtedly still massive and a beautifully round wine though. Maybe this vintage is slightly more elegant and finesse driven. Floral, honeysuckle, orange blossom, and sea salt aromatics. Focused and clean on the palate with honeyed almonds, wet rock, and lemon oil. Thanks @Weston Eidson . — 6 years ago

with Andrew, Michael and 8 others

Shay A

9.4

Monthly WTF guys blind tasting group. This month was our annual, and famed, Left Bank vs Right Bank theme. All wines served blind as usual. Started off with a Rosé and a champagne. Great night.

This was one of my favorites of the night. One of the best young Bordeaux’s I’ve tasted. Ripe and modern nose (fruit forward) with smoked meat and baked blackberry pie. The palate revealed cocoa/dark chocolate, baking spices and a hint of blue fruit wrapped by black fruit. Big. Will obviously get better, but was shocked how good this was now. I called this ‘12-14 Left Bank. — 6 years ago

with Andrew, Jack and 6 others

Justin Wilson

9.9

Group #1 and my WOTN — 7 years ago

Kerstin Diesch

9.0

Light, fruity, simple. — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.1

This wine was in a pretty good place tonight, although it was reportedly pre-decanted and aerated before being packed up and enoyed with the group. The biggest thing I remember thinking with this one was "I cannot believe this one is almost 10 years old" as the youth in this wine was quite impressive. There was a raspberry cough drop note that was quite present in this wine, with a lavender as well that was very expressive. Really enjoyed this one tonight. — 8 years ago

Norah Gustafson

9.0

Def needs to breathe, but I'm into it. — 8 years ago

Patrick Fishman

9.9

Yummy, Bold & smooth — 5 years ago

with Dana

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Pontet Canet tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron.

The 96 is a nice surprise add from Clyde’s cellar. Thank you Clyde.

This 96 is beautifully floral. The evolution is right around its peak. The body is medium full and the tannins soft. It’s an elegant beauty.

The fruits are ripe and delicious. Leaner blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries and shades of raspberries. Soft earth; dry top soil, dry rock, limestone minerals, old tobacco, soft leather, cedar with dry and withering red & dark florals. The acidity is like a waterfall. The long finish is well balanced fruit & earth and in a sweet spot.

Photos of; our dinner group, tasting room at Pontet Canet, the horse plows they still use in the fields and Chateau Pontet Canet. — 6 years ago

Rosie Johnson

9.7

This was so wonderful and smooth and lavish in my mouth. The taste was like nothing I can compare it to. I love Champagne. There are many in France but we recently had a private tour arranged by The Kensington Group where they secured a private tasting and we drank a 2000 P2 and a 2000 regular Dom. they were both delicious with the P2 being the best of course. I thought I would never taste another but we were able to a case in the states from a woman in another state. We are in heaven. This is the 1st of 12 😍 — 6 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.6

2007 blind tasting. Group 5th, my 2nd. Soooo smooth, lavender, berries, hint of cream. Tasted like merlot. Loved this wine and I thought it even got better later in the evening. — 6 years ago

with Alexandra

Ron Siegel

9.5

Love this vintage of Dominus along with the 91. Served blind with the 86 Mouton where most of the group guessed the Dominus for the Mouton. Easy to do as this was so Bordeaux like with dark berry fruits, earth, cedar, leather & tobacco, beautifully balanced, structured, complex with a long finish. — 7 years ago

Nancy Burroughs

9.0

Opened at Marco’s Kabobs on Friday, the 13th (10/13/2017). — 8 years ago

Shay A

9.4

A group of guys decided to meet up at our Wine Storage facility and bust out some unique bottles! Scores and notes to follow!

Another Joe contribution, and another wine pushing for WOTN. My first Peter Michael red. Elegant, refined and 100% smooth. One of the best cabs I've had in recent memory. Can't believe this is an '01 based on the dark fruit and tannic structure. Wish I had some PM in my cellar! — 8 years ago

with Mark and Weston