Les Pagodes de Cos 2010 - Second Vin du Château Cos d'Estournelle

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

The vinification facility, as spectacular in its own right as the château’s pagodas, is equipped with tank lifts that allow for gravity-fed processing—not only during winemaking but also during aging—and was first put into use in 2008. It represents the culmination of the estate’s considerable efforts to elevate this wine to the highest possible level, with the ambition of rivaling the First Growths in quality. The deep gravel soil generally makes it the fullest-bodied of the Médoc wines, the most voluptuous in texture, while retaining the finesse and complexity characteristic of its proximity to Lafite. Recent vintages have gained even more in aromatic purity and sincerity of expression. A very aromatic and intense white Bordeaux is produced on the soils of La Goulée, a little further north, and bears its name.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the wine:

With its magnificent texture, length, and dense fruitiness—yet without any harshness—it has everything it takes to captivate the palate. The aromatic profile features floral notes, ripe fruit, and exotic woods. This second wine ranks above some of the top-rated wines, shaking up the hierarchy.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Businessman Michel Reybier, who acquired the estate in 2000, invested heavily to equip Cos d’Estournel with everything needed to produce the finest wine possible. The construction of one of the world’s most advanced wineries, designed by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, is a prime example of this. Cos has always produced expressive wines with a rather exuberant style. In the early 2000s, it even occasionally veered into caricature, pushing the finesse that the terroir is capable of expressing into the background. The tide has turned, and with the latest vintages, Cos has regained an expression that once again captivates us.

Wine Spectator

Wine Enthusiast