2018 Pagodes de Cos
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Tasting notes
Tasted blind. Charry blackberries on the nose with structure and real follow-through. Some St-Estèphe stoniness discernible through the fruit. Long.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The second wine of Cos D'Estournel is the 2018 Pagodes De Cos, which checks in as 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. A young, unevolved yet beautifully pure bouquet of cassis, graphite, damp earth, and cedar gives way to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, yet fresh, focused Saint-Estèphe that will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age, and I've no doubt it will still be drinking nicely at age 20. While a lot of second wines are made in a more up-front, charming, ready-to-go style, this has a more serious, age-worthy vibe. It's a serious wine.
The 2018 Pagodes de Cos has quite a precise bouquet of exuberant black cherries, kirsch and violet aromas, aromatics that want to make an impression. It retains just about enough delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins, and slightly granular in texture, with a bit of chewiness on the finish. But there is plenty of freshness here and it lingers on the aftertaste. Give this 2–3 years to cohere.
The 2018 Les Pagodes de Cos (14.51% alcohol) is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, aging in 20% new barriques. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts from the glass with bold notions of Morello cherries, blackcurrant pastilles, plum preserves and spice cake with suggestions of pencil shavings and bouquet garni. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with spicy black fruits, framed by velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing on a lingering savory note.
About the producer
Louis Gaspard d’Estournel inherited Cos and Pomys in 1791, founding Cos d’Estournel in 1811, investing significantly in the property and expanding the estate from 14 to 45 hectares. The estate rapidly rose to prominence and the wines were exported around the world.