Pagodes de Cos 2020

A smooth and aromatic red Second Wine from Saint-Estèphe

The estate

Situated north of the Médoc, on the hill of Saint-Estèphe, Cos d’Estournel appears in all its majesty. Like a true palace of the Maharajah, the château and its pagodas surprise and captivate the eye. In 1791, Louis-Gaspard d'Estournel inherited some hectares of vines and built the estate. A passionate adventurer who travelled the world, his taste for the exotic and the East inspired the architecture of Château Cos d'Estournel, truly unique in the Médoc. Owned by Michel Reybier since 2000, Château Cos d'Estournel continues to shine bright in the Saint-Estèphe appellation and has joined the lineage of the greatest wines in the world. The wines of the estate are distinguished by their unique style, product of an enduring quest for beauty and excellence.

The wine

This 2020 vintage marks, for Michel Reybier, twenty years at the helm of Château Cos d´Estournel. Produced since 1994, the Pagodes de Cos red is the Second Wine of Château Cos d'Estournel, and is made from vines that are 40 years old on average.

The vineyard

Enjoying an exceptional geographical location, the Cos d'Estournel vineyard is situated on the edge of a plateau, in the immediate vicinity of the Gironde estuary. The vineyard benefits from a maritime climate and is protected from bad weather. The vines are planted on two hillsides and a central plateau, where they experience ideal sun exposure and great ventilation.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage will be remembered for the early development of the vines. Between October 2019 and February 2020, some episodes of rain helped create sufficient water reserves. A warm spring with heavy rainfall favoured early but heterogeneous bud burst. Nevertheless, this heterogeneity was limited by work on the soil, which allowed it to heat up more quickly. While the warm temperatures and heavy rainfall in April raised concerns about the health of the vines, the good weather conditions in mid-May allowed for a rapid and uniform flowering. The months of June and July were extremely dry (5mm of precipitation in 55 days), causing significant water stress. Due to this dry weather accompanied by cool temperatures, a careful leaf stripping was carried out on the eastern side of the vineyard (where the sun rises), in order to encourage the phenolic synthesis of the grapes. Rainy days at the beginning of August revived the ripening process of the grapes. The great location of the vineyard and the work of the vineyard teams minimised the health risks associated with high humidity and heat. The Indian summer leading up to the harvest allowed for the optimal ripeness of the grapes. Taking into account the precocity of the vintage and the high temperatures of September, the decision was made to harvest early, in order to preserve the tension and density of the grapes.

The blend

The Pagodes de Cos 2020 was made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (58%), Merlot (34%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Petit Verdot (4%).

The tasting

Smooth and balanced, the Pagodes de Cos 2020 seduces with its delicate touch and freshness. This is a voluptuous wine, combining elegant aromas of crème de cassis, violets and black fruits with subtle notes of tea.