2009 Les Pagodes de Cos, St. Estèphe

With and astonishing generosity of fruit and incredible concentration, this is, in our opinion, one of the top second wines of the vintage. The wine is so incredibly pure, with intense blackcurrant coulis fruit and yet a wonderful freshness adding poise and focus. Superbly integrated and with unbelievably ripe tannins for St Estèphe, this really is quite an achievement but very pricey.

Black red that sticks to the glass, cassis nose, succulent, spicy, lifted fruit, fleshy and rich, velvety texture and tannins to back it up.
(Steven Spurrier - Decanter - Apr 2010)

Very deep crimson – a real glow. Floral nose – rather exotic but with a few notes of greenness. Thick and sweet on the front end, almost tarry – very drying tannins on the finsh after massive sweet hit. A bit overripe. Just too much. Drying tannins on the finish. Apparently the old Marbuzet fruit goes into Pagodes.
(Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobinson.com - Apr 2010)

The 2009 Les Pagodes de Cos is also a remarkable offering. Composed of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, it tips the scales at 14.5% alcohol, and is better than most Cos d’Estournel vintages produced in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. It is a full-bodied, opulently concentrated wine of amazing richness, density, and intensity.

This wine possesses this vintage’s classic characteristics of enormous power, massive fruit, and extraordinary freshness and precision - largely unprecedented, particularly for Cabernet-based wines in the Medoc. (Tasted once.)
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - April 2010)

Wow. Intense aromas of blackberry, toasted nuts and spices follow through to full body, with layers of fruit and wonderful length. Very, very impressive. For a second wine, this is quite the glassful.
(James Suckling - Wine Spectator - Apr 2010)