The 1955 Chateau Cos d'Estournel was actually poured blind in Burgundy, a bottle with nigh perfect provenance. And it showed. What a fabulous wine. Deep in color, this had a bouquet paradoxically youthful and yet commensurate with its age - timeless? This is old school Bordeaux on the nose: scents of blackberry, iodine, seaweed and woodland, all beautifully defined. The palate is exquisitely balanced with perfect acidity, the lack of any new oak allowing the terroir to show through. There is a sweetness at its core, almost like a 1953 Claret in style with blackberry, cedar and a tangible marine influence marking the fresh, vital finish. It epitomizes everything great about Claret in this era, also a testament to the greatness of this vintage. Wonderful, just wonderful. Tasted November 2015.

-HS