Medium garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Goulée by Cos d'Estournel (a blend of 73% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc, aged in 20% new oak barriques), rolls effortlessly out of the glass with cheery, open-knit scents of plum preserves, boysenberries and Black Forest cake plus wafts of woodsmoke and pencil lead. The soft-textured, medium-bodied palate is bursting with juicy black fruits, lifted by a lively backbone and finishing with lovely purity.

90 points, Wine Advocate (April 2021)

A juicy, fruity red with lots of round, chewy tannins. Tobacco and leaf undertones. It’s full and savory.

92 points, JamesSuckling.com (January 2021)

Harvested between 19 September and 6 October, they chose to pick just a touch earlier than they could have done to be sure to avoid over-concentration. The mildew symptoms really only began in July, and the flowering had been good, so although it was stressful they escaped with reasonable yields of 33hl/ha. Ripeness meant that the characters of the two grape varieties almost merged together, but there were no overly dry grapes so they avoided a cooked fruit character in the wine. This is very silky, full of blackberry fruit with touches of cigar smoke and cedar. The tannins are also silky, with a touch of menthol on the finish. This should be approachable within the next five years. Drinking Window 2025 - 2036

The 2018 Goulée by Cos d'Estournel is a very pretty wine that balances fruit intensity with expressive aromatic top notes. Rose petal, mint, dried flowers, licorice and espresso lift a core of red/purplish berry fruit as this stylish, Merlot-based Médoc shows off its considerable allure. The blend is 73% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc. Yields were just 33 hectoliters per hectare, as opposed to the more typical 45-50. Give it a good deal of aeration.

 

91 points, Vinous (March 2021)

The 2018 Goulée By Cos D'Estournel comes from the northern Médoc (north of Saint-Estèphe) and is mostly Merlot blended with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The northern Médoc excelled in 2018, and readers will love this wine. Lots of black cherry and darker berry fruits as well as leafy herbs, cedarwood, and a touch of tobacco define the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a plump, round, nicely texture mouthfeel, some floral notes with air, and a fresh yet balanced finish. It's the finest version of this cuvée to date and is ideal for enjoying over the coming 5-7 years.

90 points, JebDunnuck.com (March 2021)

This Médoc estate has the same winemaking team as Château Cos d'Estournel in Saint-Estèphe. This wine is sumptuously rich, with cushioned tannins and layers of black fruits. This ripe wine will age quickly and will be ready from 2022.

90 points, Wine Enthusiast (May 2021)