Pagodes de Cos 2019

A floral, piercing style, with lilac, red currant, rooibos tea and iron notes allied as they race through the fresh finish. Shows lovely precision, in an unadorned style. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2032. 14,000 cases made, 2,100 cases imported.

Floral and perfumed fruit straight away on the nose, so inviting with black cherry and plum notes. The texture is sweet, juicy and succulent, with swathes of dark, almost bitter chocolate that pair beautifully with the plush black fruits. On the darker side, with a pleasant, cooling menthol freshness. Good impact and character.

This is very spicy and linear, with fine tannins that run the length of the wine. It’s medium-bodied, with freshness and lovely length. Very classic in style. Closed at the end. Drink after 2025.

Deeply colored, the wine is packed with layers of dark red fruits, five-spice, smoke, tobacco leaf, cocoa, and wet earth, with a hint of thyme in the background. The tannins are soft, ripe, and polished, giving you a well-structured backdrop for all the beautiful fruit that races across your palate with its freshness and silky tannins. This second wine could easily be a Grand Cru Classé if another classification were to take place. Drink from 2024–2039.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Delicately vegetal, black cherries, notes of plums, a hint of orange marmalade. Juicy, red cherries, subtle sweetness, integrated tannins, balanced, a hint of nougat on the finish, has ageing potential.

One clearly feels the ripeness and seemingly sweet fruit, with crème de cassis and black cherry. There’s good density and weight on the palate, still youthful and tight, with a richness of tannin vouching for good longevity, and a long, persistent finish.

The second wine of Cos D'Estournel, the 2019 Pagodes De Cos is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, with the balance Petit Verdot. It’s classic Saint-Estèphe on the nose, with pure black and blue fruits as well as notes of damp earth, sappy tobacco, cedar pencil, and graphite. This carries to a medium-bodied, elegant 2019 with impeccable balance, ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. The balance and purity are spot on, and this will drink nicely for over two decades. It’s not far off the style of the 2018 and certainly in the same ballpark qualitatively.

This has attractive tannic grip and lift; it has stretched out with ageing, a little less gourmet than during En Primeur but of great quality. Full of blackberry and smoked earth, with a core of freshness that gives lift through the finish. Great quality. 20% new oak.

A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2019 Pagodes de Cos is deep garnet-purple in color. It bursts with notions of baked plums, crème de cassis, and dried mulberries, plus suggestions of dried herbs, truffles, and underbrush. The medium-bodied palate is elegant and restrained, with loads of savory nuances and a fine-grained texture, finishing refreshing.

The nose, rich and expressive, opens on a top note of rose petals, with underlying aromas of tobacco and spices. Equally rich on the palate, with impressive density and silkiness for a second wine. A wine that is decidedly long on the finish, with a beautiful presence.

Logo on the capsule: JL (Lafitte Liège) Flagged as my top score in the En Primeur tastings, this wine confirms that status on the finish. Dark, intense color. Highly aromatic nose with ripe, spicy fruit. Broad on the attack, juicy mid-palate, ample texture; the wine builds in power, culminating in a deep flavor on the finish. An upward progression. Tannins are enveloped and creamy. Lovely persistence.

The name of the second wine of Cos d'Estournel highlights the exotic Chinese pagodas that adorn the roof of the cellars. It is a dense wine, smoky, spiced from wood aging. Licorice flavors will integrate as the wine ages further. Drink this fine wine from 2025.