Les Pagodes de Cos 2011

This estate's second wine, the 2011 Les Pagodes de Cos reveals reasonably broad, round, black currant and black cherry fruit notes, medium body, surprisingly good texture and a soft finish. An attractive, plump effort, it will drink well for a decade. It mirrors its grander sibling as it is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot.

The 2011 Les Pagodes de Cos is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. It has a lifted, floral bouquet with ripe Merlot filling in the gaps of the Cabernet nicely. The palate is oaky on the entry with a touch of vanilla inflecting the ripe black fruit with hints of espresso towards the tannic but well-balanced finish. This is commendable for the vintage. Tasted April 2012.

This is delicious second wine from Cos d'Estournel, with spice, meat and currant character. Full body, round tannins and a clean finish. Needs two or three years to soften but it's already very good.

Jean-Guillaume Prats believes that his second wine is now of higher quality than any vintage of the "grand vin" of Cos d'Estournel of the 1990's. This year it is made from 70% of the total production of the vineyard. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot. With 21000 cases to be produced, this is the largest production ever of Pagodes de Cos and the wine is better than Cos itself in vintages such as 1998 and 1999. Jean-Guillaume thinks that it is the equal of the 1996 grand vin. An expressive, spicy, floral nose. Good depth of ripe black fruit on the palate which is plump and rounded with a touch of tar and tobacco. Good weight and impressive for a second label.

The nose has a lot of black fruited power rich black cherry and sloe. The palate has concentrated fruit rich and deep with coffee beans and liquorice filling out mid and back palate. The tannins are firm obvious but not aggressive.

The gap between the second and first wines at Cos in 2011 is much narrower than in the last two vintages, partly because the latter underperformed. Cedarwood and Asian spices on the nose and palate, with lots of smoky, charry fruit and good structure. The tannins are a little angular, but this is still a good second wine. 8+ years.