A red with very deep and intense fruit character, yet rich tannins to back it all up. Full-bodied, layered and powerful. The second wine of Cos d’Estournel is serious again in 2016. Try from 2025.

Reviewer Name: James Suckling

Review Date: 3rd February 2019

Proof that in the great vintages, the smart money should be seeking out second wines of classified growths for wines that are guaranteed to deliver. This is packed with spice, chocolate, opulent in texture with an unmissable gourmet edge, given definition by a precise edge of cassis bud and liquorice, and a better balance overall than the 2010 Pagodes, although both are delicious wines. 0.5% Cabernet Franc completes the blend.

Drinking Window: 2021 - 2036

Reviewer Name: Jane Anson

Review Date: 9th February 2021

The second wine of the estate is no slouch. The 2016 Pagodes de Cos has some grand vin character in its cassis and graphite aromas and flavors. Showing more incense, graphite, and hints of flowers with air time, this medium to full-bodied, rounded, beautifully textured effort is well worth a case purchase. Drink this beauty, the equal to most estates’ top wines, while you wait on the grand vin to come around.

Drinking Window: 2019 - 2039

Reviewer Name: Jeb Dunnuck

Review Date: 28th February 2019

The family resembalance between its big brother is uncanny. The spicy, smoky earthy, pure fruits are present and accounted for. But they are softm silky and lighter, allowing you to enjoy this with a just a year or two of age. Though this beauty will be going strong for up to 2 decades.

Reviewer Name: Jeff Leve

Review Date: 21st September 2019

Dense and full of dark fruits, this second wine from Cos d'Estournel comes from specific parcels. With blackberry fruits and rich, generous tannins, the wine has weight and concentration. The freshness at the end is so typical of the vintage. Drink from 2023.

Reviewer Name: Roger Voss

Review Date: 1st May 2019

The 2016 Les Pagodes de Cos has a wonderful bouquet of vibrant, expressive red berry fruit, strawberry and raspberry, conveying a tangible sense of mineralité and tension; the new oak is very well integrated here. The balanced palate offers fine-boned tannins and very well judged acidity. Utterly harmonious, with a caressing and beautifully poised finish. This is a top-class Saint-Estèphe that will age with panache. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.

Drinking Window: 2021 - 2035

Reviewer Name: Neal Martin

Review Date: 25th January 2020

The 2016 Les Pagodes de Cos has a wonderful bouquet of vibrant, expressive red berry fruit, strawberry and raspberry, conveying a tangible sense of mineralité and tension; the new oak is very well integrated here. The balanced palate offers fine-boned tannins and very well judged acidity. Utterly harmonious, with a caressing and beautifully poised finish. This is a top-class Saint-Estèphe that will age with panache. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.

Drinking Window: 2021 - 2035

Reviewer Name: Neal Martin

Review Date: 1st August 2020

The 2016 Les Pagodes de Cos is blended of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46.5% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 0.5% Cabernet Franc. It has a deep garnet-purple color and opens with notions of warm cassis, black cherries and smoked meats giving way to scents of charcoal, underbrush and cloves plus a waft of new leather. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with generous black fruits and some compelling red fruit sparks, supported by ripe, grainy tannins and finishing long and spicy.

Drinking Window: 2020 - 2033

Reviewer Name: Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Review Date: 30th November 2018

The 2016 Les Pagodes de Cos is super-expressive today. Pliant and inviting, yet also medium in body, the 2016 has much to recommend it. Grilled herb, tobacco, menthol, chocolate, licorice and black cherry are all seamless in this silky, open-knit second wine from Cos d'Estournel. The 2016 is incredibly harmonious, even in the early going.

Drinking Window: 2021 - 2036

Reviewer Name: Antonio Galloni

Review Date: 1st January 2019