Les Pagodes de Cos, St Estèphe, 2009
Pagodes has become one of our favourite second wines. The estate takes real pride in their Pagodes and year after year we find a really classic, beautifully constructed second wine. 2009 is no exception; Pagodes offers aromas of cigar smoke, tobacco, cedar wood and ripe cassis. The palate is packed with layers of sweet cool berry fruit. There is a wonderful mineral edge to this, which complements the vibrant fruit core. One is left with great freshness and persistence of flavours. Delicious. Interestingly this has the same alcohol has the Grand Vin, 14.5%, but no-one seems to be criticising the Pagodes; 69% Cabernet, 30% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot.
critic reviews
The 2009 Les Pagodes de Cos takes a few swirls of the glass to unfurl, perhaps never quite clicking into fifth gear. Tobacco-stained black fruit, briary and woodland scents eventually emerge; with decanting I suspect this would transmute into an attractive bouquet. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin, quite symmetrical and extremely well balanced. It is not the most powerful or complex northern Médoc and yet there is surfeit elegant and poise. Enjoy this now and over the next decade. Perversely, I prefer this to the Grand Vin! Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.