2021 Pagodes de Cos

Mostly Merlot but including 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2021 Pagodes De Cos has a juicy, medium-bodied, lively style that shows the fresher vibe of the vintage while bringing good depth of fruit and texture. Bright black cherries, currants, sappy tobacco, and some graphite/lead pencil notes all define the aromatics, and it has some classic Saint-Estèphe earth and spice. Raised in 25% new barrels and with 12.49% alcohol, drink this balanced, elegant Pagodes over the coming 10-15 years.

The 2021 Les Pagodes de Cos, which represents around half the chateau’s production, has meliorated on the nose since I tasted it from barrel, developing a little more charm and swagger in its mixture of black and red fruit, graphite and mocha. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, quite strict and linear, but at least there is ample freshness here. Saline on the finish and classic in style, the 2021 is just missing a bit of length. Fine.

The 2021 Les Pagodes de Cos is a big, potent wine. A blast of plum, blackberry, espresso, chocolate and licorice is dialed up to the maximum. Readers will find an explosive, almost shockingly full-throttle wine for the year. This feels a bit bombastic to me.