Plenty of exotic spices, saffran, clove, black pepper, turmeric, cassis, with sandalwood, gunsmoke and cedar smoke. Both character and bite, with plenty of impact. 50% of overall production, this is a successful Cos d'Estournel with plenty to recommend, capturing the gourmet sweetness of the vintage. 70% new oak.

This is one of the vintages from Cos that seems to pull out all the stops. The fruit is so rich, the texture so dense, and deep flavors of chocolate back up the huge structure. It does work in its magnificent, flamboyant way. And at the end, the acidity does its part and gives the wine a final lift. Drink from 2024.

The 2012 from Cos d'Estournel is a streamlined, elegant version of this cuvée that offers first rate notes of crème de cassis, graphite, smoked herbs and saddle leather, with hints of oak pushed into the background. Supple, medium to full-bodied and charming, yet with enough tannin to warrant short term cellaring, give bottles 5-6 years in the cellaring and enjoy over the following two decades.

Deep in color, with Asian spice, licorice, espresso and wet earth scents open the wine. On the palate, the wine is polished, round and smooth, with cassis, licorice, cocoa, coffee bean and black cherries in the finish. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/search-wine-tasting-notes/?szSearch=2012+Cos+d%27Estournel

(NM91-93 points) Tasted as a barrel sample at the chateau. The Grand Vin is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot that is being raised in 70% new oak. It delivers 13.79% alcohol and represents half of the total crop. It is initially quite taciturn on the nose with blackberry and briary notes, the Cabernet component coming through strongly with hints of iodine. Returning after 10 minutes, the mineral aromas are more pronounced. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins. It is certainly well balanced, quite assertive at this stage with bold, dry tannins on the finish that is more concentrated than you would expect given the growing season. There is a pleasant salty note on the aftertaste that lingers long in the mouth. This is a steadfast, well-judged Cos d’Estournel, though it falls somewhat short of the mighty 2010.

93+ The 2012 Cos d'Estournel is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. It has a deep garnet-purple color and reveals expressive black cherries, black raspberries and red and black plums scents with subtler notes of cassis, menthol, pencil lead and cigar box plus a touch of lavender. Medium-bodied and elegantly styled, with a rock-solid frame of chewy tannins, it delivers a lively lift on the long finish. This is a lovely wine with slightly chewier tannins and less stuffing than the 2011. Needs 4-5 years. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

The 2012 Cos d'Estournel is medium to deep garnet-purple colored. It features notes of mocha, cedar chest, and licorice over a core of warm cassis and blackberry preserves with a hint of wild sage. The medium-bodied palate has a chewy backbone of oak-inspired tannins with delicate fruit and an herbal, lifted finish.

The 2012 Cos d'Estournel has a perfumed bouquet with blackberry, cedar, undergrowth and black pepper aromas all well-defined and focused, with more vigour than many of its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins, good acidity, maybe a tad strict and dry on the finish, yet I admire its intensity and terroir expression. There was some bottle variation here, one bottle dominated by wood, the other more typical Cos d'Estournel with plenty of fruit. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. -- Neal Martin

Solid, with pure lilac and violet notes out front, backed by slightly taut plum, currant and bitter cherry flavors that unwind slowly through the finish. This has good drive, cut and intensity, and is one of the better efforts of the vintage.—Non-blind Cos-d'Estournel vertical (December 2015). Best from 2018 through 2028. – JM