Les Pagodes de Cos 2019

Tasted blind. Evolved garnet colour. Light and fragrant. A bit skinny and austere – very unlike wines 1 and 2 in this flight (Ch Capbern and Ch Calon Ségur, Le Marquis de Calon Ségur)! High acidity rather than lots of tannin on the end. Clean and fresh and pure, but only for classicists. Well-balanced finish. 13.5%Drink 2026– 2035

55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot. Barrel sample.Poised, fresh and balanced with nothing in excess. Plenty of lift on the nose with berry fruit, mineral and liquorice notes. Long and linear but with adequate flesh. Fine, persistent tannins. Juicy and harmonious. Ticks all the boxes. (JL)Drink 2026 – 2038

The 2019 Les Pagodes de Cos has a vivacious bouquet featuring a mélange of blackberry and raspberry fruit that needs less time to settle in the glass compared to its primeur showing, and a light marine tang. The palate is beautifully balanced with superb salinity, quite Pauillac-like (still), with graphite/pencil lead toward the poised, persistent finish. This is an excellent Les Pagodes that is well worth a place in your cellar. 2024-2040

The 2019 Les Pagodes de Cos has an intriguing bouquet that takes time to settle in the glass. When it finally does, it reveals well-defined blackberry, raspberry and briary aromas, a touch of undergrowth/damp moss too. Where it really delivers is on the elegant palate framed by fine-boned tannins and a fine bead of acidity. A Pauillac-like, pencil lead tinged finish, that dare I say, is reminiscent of Lafite-Rothschild! This is well worth seeking out. 2024 - 2040

This is really minerally and salty with spices, such as cloves. Full-bodied, yet tight and beautiful. Chewy, yet focused and bright. Very integrated. Hard not to drink.

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.

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