Château Cos d'Estournel, Pagodes de Cos, Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, 2014

Overview of the Wine
Chateau Cos d'Estournel is a Grand Cru vineyard located in St. Estephe. Its oriental facade is adorned with three pagoda turrets, all cast in a soft golden sandstone. Chateau Cos d'Estournel today covers 170 acres separated from Chateau Lafite, along the southern edge, by the stream between St. Estephe and Pauillac. The gravelly soil, over a flint, limestone and silicate subsoil low in nitrogen, has eroded over centuries to form steep ridges which perfectly drain the vineyards. The vineyards are planted 60 percent in Cabernet Sauvignon vines, 2 percent of Cabernet Franc, and 38 percent in Merlot. Naturally, the percentage of Cabernet or Merlot in the composition of each vintage depends on the climate which favors one grape variety or the other.

Grape / Blend
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc

Origin
St. Estephe, Bordeaux, France

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Pagodes de Cos comes from a clearly defined terroir and is developing its own personality. Velvety, fresh and fruity, the wine charms from the outset while already showing the structure of a Grand Vin. Its attractive mineral character gives it smoothness, and it expresses the richness of its terroir with great delicacy.

93 Points - Wine Enthusiast 
The second wine of Cos d'Estournel is powerfully packed with tannins and dark ripe fruit. It is enormously rich and intense while keeping a fine smooth texture. There is a dark core that is going to allow the wine to develop over many years. Drink from 2024.

93 Points - James Suckling
The intensity of plums, spices, mushrooms and black truffles is very impressive. Full body, firm and silky tannins and a savory finish. Delicious second wine already. Better in 2020.

90 Points - Wine Spectator
Shows good flesh, with a core of plum, raspberry and blackberry paste flavors, underscored by racier pebble and savory notes. Delivers briary energy throughout. Best from 2018 through 2028.

90 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2014 Les Pagodes de Cos, now in bottle, seems to be wasting no time in appeasing those who like to drink their Bordeaux young. (And why not? This is a deuxième vin after all.) The nose is open and generous with blackberry fruit tinged with dark chocolate and a touch of mint, the graphite element not evident here as it was in barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin, very well-judged acidity and very fine focus. Like the Grand Vin, this is not an exotic or flamboyant Cos d'Estournel, but no way would you describe it as lean. There is an easy-drinking approachable nature to this Les Pagodes de Cos, without precluding it of precision and length, whilst the graphite note pops up right at the finish and on the aftertaste. This delightful wine should be drinking from 2018 and over the next decade. Tasted February 2017.

Product size: 750ml