2018 Pagodes de Cos

The second wine of Cos D'Estournel is the 2018 Pagodes De Cos, which checks in as 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. A young, unevolved yet beautifully pure bouquet of cassis, graphite, damp earth, and cedar gives way to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, yet fresh, focused Saint-Estèphe that will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age, and I've no doubt it will still be drinking nicely at age 20. While a lot of second wines are made in a more up-front, charming, ready-to-go style, this has a more serious, age-worthy vibe. It's a serious wine.

The 2018 Pagodes de Cos has quite a precise bouquet of exuberant black cherries, kirsch and violet aromas, aromatics that want to make an impression. It retains just about enough delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins, and slightly granular in texture, with a bit of chewiness on the finish. But there is plenty of freshness here and it lingers on the aftertaste. Give this 2–3 years to cohere.

The 2018 Les Pagodes de Cos (14.51% alcohol) is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, aging in 20% new barriques. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts from the glass with bold notions of Morello cherries, blackcurrant pastilles, plum preserves and spice cake with suggestions of pencil shavings and bouquet garni. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with spicy black fruits, framed by velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing on a lingering savory note.