Goulée by Chateau Cos d'Estournel

Wine information: The Goulée vineyard is located in the north of the Médoc in Port de Goulée and Jau-Dignac and Loirac. It covers a gravelly hill, facing the Gironde estuary. Goulée, which used to be an island surrounded by the waters of the estuary, has a deep gravel terroir worthy of the best Grands Crus and is treated as such by the team at Cos d’Estournel. The average planting density of 5700 vines per hectare goes with high canopy management in order to obtain an optimum level of photosynthesis. As with all the great terroirs in the Médoc, the Goulée vines are tended and harvested by hand. The Goulée vineyard enjoys an extraordinarily temperate climate in which the two main grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon (80%) and Merlot (20%) are able grow in superb conditions. The wine is aged in 50% new wood for 14 months in the cask. Goulée’s geographical position, close to the Atlantic ocean (18km away, as compared to 30km for Pauillac), combined with the incredible width of the estuary (12km wide next to Goulée, compared to 3km at Pauillac), provides exceptional coolness for the vines in the summer, and welcome mildness in the spring and winter. This particularity of the climate gives Goulée’s wines a fruity character, reminiscent of the style of certain New World wines.

Reviews: "La Goulee tends to be a well-made Medoc meant to be consumed during its first 5-6 years of life. The 2006 exhibits attractive chocolaty, berry fruit intermixed with underlying earth tones. Firm tannin gives it a slight austerity, but it possesses very good depth and ripeness as well as a savory texture." 87 Points, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, February 2009.

"A creation of the Cos d’Estournel team. Remarkably deep crimson right out to the rim. Fresh even slightly tart nose. Definite green streak however hard they have worked to modify this. Sleek texture but pretty rasping tannins on the finish - in fine idiom. Very different from previous vintages - lacking the full ripeness and opulence of Goulée to date." 15.5 Points, Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com

 
     

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