Chateau Cos d´Estournel - Les Pagodes de Cos 2023

WEINWISSER: "51 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 45 % Merlot, 2 % Cabernet Franc, 2 % Petit Verdot. Bezauberndes blaubeeriges Parfüm, verführerischer Iris-Duft, edle rote Cassiswürze und zarte Graphitnoten. Am komplexen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, herrlicher körniger Extraktfülle und trainiertem Körper. Im gebündelten Finale schwarzbeerige Konturen, Wacholder und mehlige Adstringenz."

JAMES SUCKLING: "The polished and creamy texture here is extremely attractive, with blueberry, blackcurrant and crushed-stone aromas and flavors. It’s medium-bodied with linear tannins, showing polish and finesse. Creamy mouth-feel. Second wine of Cos. 12.9% alcohol. 51% cabernet sauvignon, 45% merlot, 2% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Licorice, flowers, cherries, and a hint of chocolate create the perfume. The palate is medium-bodied, elegant, and focused on freshness over volume. This is a refined vintage for Les Pagodes de Cos, finishing with fresh, red, and dark red fruits, a touch of spice, and just a hint of cocoa in the finish. This is going to be delicious if tasted early, and it will age well too. The wine blends 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. 13% ABV, 3.74 pH. Drink from 2027-2040."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Based on 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the 2023 Pagodes De Cos is a gorgeous effort offering lots of ripe red and black fruits, some graphite, toasted spice, and savory tobacco notes, medium to full body, and ripe tannins. It has a savory, firmer edge and will need some time."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2023 Les Pagodes de Cos has turned out beautifully, offering up aromas of cassis, orange zest, vine smoke and incense, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and polished palate with a deep core of fruit, supple tannins and a lively, mouthwatering finish. It's a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot."

VINUM: "Sublim im Duft, klar und rein am Gaumen, delikate Frucht, feinkörniges Tannin, herb im Finale. Balance, Frische, Eleganz."

DECANTER: "Strongly aromatic on the nose, the Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot really making their mark despite comprising only 2% of the blend each. Vivid pink/purple in the glass, amazing vibrancy to the colour. Bright and buzzy, great energy, a little powdery with the tannins at the fore giving the structure but good length and balance and weight. Grippy, expansive and fresh, lots of life and cool crunchy blue and red fruit at the fore. Ends dry and powdery. Feels a little subdued and taken over by the structure right now but there’s clearly power on show. Could be lovely in time. Ageing 20% new oak."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Reife Kirschen, ein Hauch von Cassis, noch etwas zurückhaltend, kandierte Orangenzesten sind unterlegt. Mittlerer Körper, rote Kirschen, zart nach Zwetschken, präsente Tannine, mineralischer Nachhall, harmonisch, feine Süße im Abgang, vielseitig einsetzbar."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Pagodes de Cos charges out of the gate with bold notes of crushed black and red currants, fresh black cherries, and bay leaves leading to suggestions of lavender and graphite. Light-bodied and elegantly styled, the palate delivers compelling tension and bright, crunchy red berry flavors, supported by grainy tannins and finishing on a lingering chalky note. The blend is 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot."