Les Pagodes de Cos 2018

It is no secret that Les Pagodes de Cos is one of the best value second wines from Bordeaux.  This fleshy, seductive, and vibrant second wine from the storied Second Growth estate Cos d’Estournel should be in any bargain-conscious oenophile’s repertoire.  With plenty of spices and aromas of luscious fruits, Les Pagodes de Cos Rouge is the perfect wine to enjoy with heartier faire yet has plenty of versatility.  A wine that consistently over-delivers each vintage, Les Pagodes de Cos possesses the power of many great Saint-Estèphes yet is a sumptuous and friendly wine.  Be sure to enjoy it when waiting for the grand vin to come around.  Cos d’Estournel has a long and rich history that is unique among the many estates on the Left Bank.  The exotic, pagoda-like architecture is striking and conjures up images of distant lands in the mind’s eye.  The unconventional is embraced here, and it serves this renegade Second Growth well.  The property’s origins begin with one man – Louis Gaspard d’Estournel.  His love of Cos d’Estournel bordered upon an obsession, and he would frequently drive himself into debt snapping up as many parcels of land around him as he could.  He expanded the vineyard holdings from 14 to 45 hectares within his lifetime. 

Louis was a foreword-thinking man with an entrepreneurial spirit.  He did not participate in the negociantsystem and spent the majority of his time shipping his wines to foreign countries like India.  Since his wines were so concentrated and powerful, they often arrived in fantastic condition.  Louis Gaspard d’Estournel was one of the first Bordeaux winemakers to cater to the global marketplace, earning him the title of "The Maharaja of St-Estèphe."  Unfortunately, he passed away before he could bear witness to Château Cos d’Estournel being classified as a Second Growth. The property is currently managed by hospitality mogul, Michel Reybeir, who shares the same passion for the estate as his esteemed predecessor.  Pagodes de Cos has the same vines that are used for the grand vin.  A mixture of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot that are 40 years old on average go into this wine.  What makes Pagodes de Cos a unique Second Wine from the Left Bank is the higher concentration of Merlot in the blend.  This is a practice commonly used in the Saint-Estèphe appellation, largely due to the hefty amount of clay terroir, that provide a nurturing environment for this plush and velvety varietal.  The grapes are vinified in a gravity flow winery to preserve the softness of the wine.

The personality of Pagodes de Cos Rouge is playful, spontaneous, and seductive.   There is a smoothness to the wine, coupled with beautifully integrated tannins.  One can expect aromas of black fruits, dark florals, and even aromas of tea.  Pagodes de Cos is a seductive, balanced wine and among one of the favorites among the team at Laguna Cellar.  We can assure you, once you discover this sensual and powerful wine, you’ll feel the same way.

"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 purple-black in color, it practically explodes from the glass with rambunctious notions of baked black cherries, plum preserves and crème de cassis with hints of cigar box, fungi, tilled soil and woodsmoke plus a touch of crushed rocks. The full-bodied palate delivers mouth-coating black fruit preserves with a beautiful earthy undercurrent and a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins, finishing with fantastic length. A very serious second wine! Should age incredibly." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate, Ratings: 93-95

"The 2018 Les Pagodes de Cos is fabulous. Rich, dark and explosive, Pagodes captures all of the natural intensity of the vintage. Black cherry, leather, cedar, scorched earth and grilled herbs all blossom in a dark, somber wine loaded with class. Huge, ripe fruit and equally large-scaled tannins result in a Pagodes that, if anything, may be too serious for a second wine. In 2018, Pagodes is equal to or better than the top wines from many other châteaux. The blend is 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc." - Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, (April, 2019) Ratings: 91-94