2018 Les Pagodes de Cos, St-Estèphe

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.

Full of liquorice and dark chocolate, the nose is immediately seductive. This is a second wine that's full of fleshy, sexy, bright fruit and real elegance. It's a lovely wine, if clearly marked by the generosity of the vintage. The 30hl/ha yield was affected by a mix of mildew and some concentration in September. To control extractions, they macerated at a lower temperature of 27-28°C. As with the grand vin, this is aged in 20% new oak, down a little on the usual amount. 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend.

This is so beautiful with very fresh and ripe fruit at the same time. Medium-to full-bodied. Rich and layered. The accessibility and forwardness is so enticing in this second wine. Best Pagodes ever?

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.