2020 Cos d'Estournel Les Pagodes de Cos Saint-Estephe

The region of Saint-Estephe is known for cellar-worthy wines - and the 2020  Chateau Les Pagodes de Cos Saint-Estephe is no exception. Crafted with meticulous care, this wine embodies the essence of excellence in the left bank Bordeaux region. And considering it is located about a mile from the world-renowned Lafite Rothschild, you can feel that the air surrounding these wineries carries a sense of quality and distinction.

While Saint-Estephe shares the spotlight with esteemed neighbors like Pauillac and Saint-Julien, its uniqueness lies in its distinctive growing conditions. Positioned a bit further from the river, the soil of this area transitions from gravel to clay and limestone, resulting in wines with heightened acidity and freshness from the long ripening period.

These conditions are a cornerstone behind this winery's success since its beginning. With a rich history dating back to its founding by Louis Gaspard d'Estournel in 1811, it was one of the first wineries to stand out for its unconventional practices. It was one of the first wineries to bottle, label, and directly market its own wine, challenging the norms of traditional wine sales.

Since then, the winery has consistently surpassed expectations, building on its quality and taking its reputation to new heights. Its prestigious classification as a second growth in 1855 makes this most apparent. Known for its Cabernet-driven reds, the wines shine in their youth, but get even better as they age. The remarkable complexity and intensity that unfold over time make it well worth the wait.

Fast forward to 2020, Cos d'Estournel, now owned byMichel Reybier, is celebrated for its charm and take on modern-day drinking wines. A reviewer from The Wine Advocate stated that the wine is, “fleshy and dramatic, bursting with aromas of crème de cassis, lilac, spices and creamy new oak. It's an unctuous, ripe, modern-styled red that will drink well young.” This checks out considering the wine is a powerful blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot.

2020 was a great year for Bordeaux. Vinous Media blessed this year with a 97-point review and said, "Two thousand-twenty is an exceptional vintage for Bordeaux, certainly the best in the 2018-2020 trilogy. Quality is very, very high."

Aging: 12 months in new oak barrels.

58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34 % Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Expect notes of homemade blackcurrant syrup and warm spices like cassis and black truffles. On the palate, the medium body is accompanied by dark fruit flavors and a hint of dried herbs and young tannins that add a hint of freshness.The finish is long and lively - drawing you back for more.

Fresh and floral showing notes of hibiscus, guaranà, and pomegranate. Green mandarin and bergamot describe the secondary scene augmenting the complexity.Full-bodied, very soft tannins and a tasty finalewith a more horizontal than vertical profile. ~ 94 Points - WinesCritic.com

Spicy redcurrants with dark chocolate, as well as bark and black tea on the nose. Full-bodied with firm and fine tannins that are nicely velvet in texture. Delicious and savory finish. Needs four or five years to come together. Best after 2026. ~93 James Suckling

Ripe dark fruits on the nose, smells fleshy with liquorice, tobacco, dried herb and dark chocolate flecks. Smooth and sleek on the palate, gorgeous texture and weight in the mouth. Grippy and mouthfilling with powdery tannins that gently support the rich fruit profile. A bold, confident wine with chew and flesh and lots of appeal. One for sooner drinking to enjoy the youthful opulence but will age too. ~93 Decanter

On the palate. the medium-bodied, soft, plush and polished wine is almost ready to go. And that's a good thing because you are going to want to dig into all of its layers of ripe, fresh, creamy, lush dark red fruits and their spicy, chocolate edge. For a second wine,this is a fabulous effort. ~ 93 points - The Wine Cellar Insider

Showing even better from bottle than barrel, the 2020 Pagodes De Cos checks in as 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34 % Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Remarkably elegant and balanced, it has a great nose of red and black fruits, sandalwood, tobacco leaf, and spice as well as medium to full-bodied richness on the palate. It's shockingly good and up with the top second wines out there. It will evolve for at least two decades. ~93 Jeb Dunnuck

An enticing style, with sparkles of anise and black tea adding nuance to a core of lushly textured loganberry and mulberry fruit. Reveals a light kiss of incense on the open-knit finish. A crowd-pleaser for mid-term drinking. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. ~92 Wine Spectator

This second wine is complex and structured. At the same time, it has the proper openness and precocity of a second wine. ~ 92 Wine Enthusiast 

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