2020 Les Pagodes de Cos - Zweitwein von Cos d'Estournel - St. Estephe AC

Decanter.com -92pts - JA: *Maintains both a spiced kick and creamy texture through the palate, giving form and character. Silky texture, with cinnamon and saffron-laden blackberry fruits. This is precise and confident with sweet and tender tannins, the power is almost hidden at this point but it is there. 38% of overall production. 4% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Drinking Window 2024 - 2038* - 05/21

Falstaff Magazin – (92-94) pts – PM: *Kräftiges Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, breitere Randaufhellung. Nuancen von reifen Herzkirschen, ein Hauch von Lakritze, kandierte Orangenzesten, feine Gewürznoten. Saftig, reife Kirschen und dunkle Schokolade, wirkt leichtfüßig, gut integrierte Tannine, mineralisch und gut anhaftend, ein vielseitiger Speisenbegleiter.* - 05/2021

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 91-93pts - LPB: *The 2020 Les Pagodes de Cos is composed of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. The harvest took place September 10–24 with a yield of 39 hectoliters per hectare. The alcohol weighs in at 13.28% with a pH of 3.85 and an IPT (total phenolic index) of 68. It is being aged in French oak barrels, 30% new.
Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it sashays out of the glass with pretty, open-knit scents of stewed black plums, boysenberries and warm cassis, plus savory hints of charcuterie, woodsmoke, black truffles and bouquet garni. Medium-bodied, the palate is packed with crunchy black fruit flavors and dried herbs accents, supported by bags of freshness and well-managed, grainy tannins, finishing with great length and a lively skip in its step.* - 05/21

WeinWisser – 18/20pts - WL: *58 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 34 % Merlot, 4 % Cabernet Franc, 4 % Petit Verdot. Sattes Purpur mit opaker Mitte und lila Rand. Komplexes Bouquet mit reifer schwarzer Kirsche, dunklen Schokopralinen und Lakritze, dahinter exotische Hölzer, zarter Veilchenduft und edle Cassiswürze. Am üppigen Gaumen mit cremiger Textur, reife Extraktfülle, stützende Rasse und engmaschiges Tanningerüst. Im gebündelten Finale dunkle Frucht, spürbare Terroirwürze und zarte Adstringenz mit ganz zarten kernigen Noten im Untergrund, aufgerundet.* – 04/2021

JancisRobinson.com - 17/20pts - JL: *Structured and fresh with present but unaggressive tannins. Fruit bright and lifted. Upright and classic in its demeanour and clearly with ageing potential. 13.3% Drink 2027 – 2040.* - 05/2021

JamesSuckling.com - 93-94pts - JS: *This is a racy Pagodes with beautiful fruit and tannins that leave a nice, persistent finish. Medium to full body. Savory finish. Tight and clean.* - 05/21

Vinous.com - 90-92pts - AG: *The 2020 Les Pagodes de Cos is very easy to like. Silky tannins and pretty, lifted aromatics play off a core of supple fruit. In most vintages, the Pagodes is perhaps a bit more exuberant. I am curious to see what things look like once the 2020 is in bottle.* - 05/2021

Vinous.com – (89-91) pts – NM: *The 2020 Les Pagodes de Cos has a well-defined, almost Graves-like bouquet of a mélange of red and black fruit: punnets of freshly picked strawberries and raspberried, and blackberries following later. The palate is medium-bodied with very supple tannins. This Les Pagodes has a smooth veneer, just a faint wisp of dark chocolate and espresso infusing the predominantly red fruit. A second wine that will probably drink well after one or two years in bottle.* - 05/2021

Thewinecellarinsider.com - (92-94) pts - JL: *Fresh, bright, spicy and almost ready to go. The wine is medium-bodied, savory, lifted and polished. The fresh, red pit fruits are accompanied by tobacco leaf, spice, cigar box and savory notes on the nose, palate and finish. Drink this young while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. The wine blends 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot.* - 05/21