AMA Vertical Tasting
G d’Estournel 2019 &
Château Cos d’Estournel
(1985, 2005, 2015, 2016, 2017)
It is reported that Goulée by d’Estournel will be officially renamed as G d’Estournel from the 2019 vintage. From next year, this wine will be sold through En Primeurs market. Therefore, the 2019 vintage will be the first and last time to be released in the “autumn market.”
As a fan of G d’Estournel, how could I miss this critical moment? So Some time ago, I visited Château Cos d’Estournel and tasted G d’Estournel 2019 with the winemaker Dominique and the marketing director Géraldine. The winery also generously prepared an excellent vertical tasting of Cos d’Estournel. I was so over the moon after this tasting… So Don’t forget to check my tasting notes if you’d like to find out more about these wines!
I suppose that you might not know, G d’Estournel is actually the “secret arsenal” of Cos d’Estournel. All the winemaking techniques we could see in Cos d’Estournel today have been tested in G d’Estournel many times. Especially the core technologies like “lower temperature fermentation”, “gentle extraction”, “cold maceration”, which had changed the personality of Cos d’Estournel. All of these were originated from the cellar of G d’Estournel.
I must emphasize that G d’Estournel has its own terroir’s character and the winemaking philosophy. For example, G d’Estournel is located farther north than Cos d’Estournel. The gravel particles here are smaller than those we found in Saint-Estèphe.
Besides, the upper underground is composed of clay or clay-limestone; the sub-soil is entirely limestone. This type of soil is better for high-proportion Merlot blend wine. It could give G d’Estournel a tender and juicy taste, a soft and smooth texture, and also a unique savory towards the finish. Both entry-level consumers and professionals would find a lot of pleasure in this wine.
If you are willing to know how astounding this Médoc Merlot blend is, G d’Estournel would be your best choice.