PAGODES DE COS Rouge 2nd wine of Ch. Cos d'Estournel, Saint-Estephe 2019 Bottle

Description

Pagodes de Cos Rouge 2019 is a compelling second wine that amplifies Cos d'Estournel’s power with ripe fruit generosity and approachable structure. The colour is deep ruby with a vivid core. The nose opens with lush blackcurrant, blackberry and ripe plum, lifted by violet and a fine spicy perfume; with aeration the bouquet broadens to reveal cedar, tobacco leaf and pencil lead alongside a savoury thread of olive tapenade and smoked meat.

On the palate the wine is full bodied with a generous yet refined mid palate and supple, finely grained tannins that give support without austerity. Primary dark fruit of cassis and black cherry leads, joined by a bright seam of redcurrant acidity that keeps the profile lively. Mid palate development brings black pepper, clove and a hint of dark chocolate, while discreet oak seasoning supplies toasted spice and vanilla that frame rather than dominate the fruit. A saline mineral thread and a faint iron note reinforce the Saint Estephe character and extend the finish.

The 2019 vintage in Bordeaux was warm and generous, producing riper fruit and polished tannins; at Pagodes de Cos this yielded a wine of immediate appeal and structure suited to both early drinking and short term ageing. Approachable now with light decanting, the 2019 will reward three to ten years of cellaring as tertiary savoury notes integrate. Drink 2026 to 2036. Serve slightly below room temperature with roast lamb, chargrilled ribeye, hearty stews, venison with juniper or mature hard cheeses to match the wine’s ripe fruit, spice and savoury depth.

DECANTER 93 points
Tasted by Jane Anson at Bordeaux, 30 May 2020
Part of Best Bordeaux 2019 wines: Second labels
Plump blackberry fruits, velvety texture and evident tannins. An excellent wine that has sapidity and punch - a great combination that makes this extremely successful. 4% Petit Verdot completes the blend.
Drinking Window 2024 - 2038

THE WINE ADVOCATE (92 - 94)
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Issue Date: 3rd Jun 2020, Source: 2019 Bordeaux Primeurs Flash Review 1, The Wine Advocate
The 2019 Les Pagodes de Cos (14.03% alcohol) is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, aging in 20% new barriques. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, notions of wild blueberries, boysenberries and redcurrant jelly come bounding out of the glass, followed by a profound core of warm cassis, licorice and bouquet garni with a touch of cinnamon stick. Medium to full-bodied, the palate bursts with bright, expressive black and red fruit flavors, framed by firm, fine-grained tannins and loads of freshness, finishing on a lingering spicy note.

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ABOUT CHATEAU COS D'ESTOURNEL
Château Cos d Estournel is an iconic Saint Estèphe estate famed for producing powerful, exotic and impeccably constructed wines that marry left bank structure with a distinctive spicy, almost global aromatic signature. The property occupies gravelly terraces facing the Gironde estuary, where deep well drained soils and a cool maritime influence favour slow phenolic ripening and concentrated tannic architecture. Cos d Estournel is celebrated for wines that combine black fruit intensity, spice, incense and a mineral core with impressive ageing potential.

Since 2009 the estate has been owned by Michel Reybier, whose investment has underwritten significant vineyard renewal, cellar modernisation and a sustained emphasis on quality. Under Reybier stewardship the property has pursued precise parcel management and improved technical control in the cellar while retaining the house signature of richness married to tension. Family and senior management remain closely involved in strategic direction and long term planning.

Vineyards are worked with meticulous attention to soil variation and exposure. Plantings are dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that add aromatic lift and structural nuance. Vineyard practice stresses yield restraint, careful canopy management and selective hand harvesting to ensure grapes reach optimum physiological ripeness. Increasing emphasis on soil health and sustainable measures supports vine vigour and long term terroir expression.

Winemaking is parcel by parcel with rigorous sorting, small lot vinifications and temperature control. The cellar team focuses on calibrated extraction to build tannic backbone without sacrificing aromatic clarity. Elevage takes place in French oak, selected by cuvee to integrate tannin and to add complexity while preserving fruit purity. Extensive blending trials and cellar tasting guide final assemblages to achieve balance between power and finesse.

Stylistically Cos d Estournel is often described as opulent and boldly scented yet precise, showing cassis, cassis leaf, cedar, exotic spice, licorice and a saline mineral thread. The wines reward patient cellaring and are prized by collectors for their layered complexity and distinctive personality within Médoc grand vin.