PAGODES DE COS

Les Pagodes represented 50% of the crop at Cos in 2014 and is one of the best second wines of the vintage. An example of St Estèphe at its best, it's dense and powerful yet stylish at the same time, with sweet fruit, minerality and polished tannins combining harmoniously on the palate. (One of Tim's Top 10 Second Wines.) Drinking range: 2022 - 2030 Rating: 93 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (May 2015)

The Les Pagodes de Cos 2014 is a blend of 43% Merlot, 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot, a selection from the vineyard according to age of vine and the soil. Matured in 50% new oak, it has a clean and precise bouquet, a veneer of blackberry and wild strawberry fruit intermixed with cedar and graphite, the latter becoming more pronounced with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with a silky smooth entry, well-judged acidity with veins of tobacco and allspice emerging toward the finish that gently fans out. There is already a pleasant freshness in situ that I hope will be retained by the time it is in bottle. Very fine. Drinking range: 2019 - 2030 Rating: 90-92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2015)

Fine, floral fruit - has Pauillac elegance. Quite fleshy and well-structured with a real sense of place. Attractive yet serious. (Highly Recommended St-Estèphe, Decanter.) Drinking range: 2018 - 2028 Rating: 90+ Steven Spurrier (Apr 2015)

The 2014 Les Pagodes de Cos is supple and inviting. Black plums, chocolate, mocha, smoke and licorice are all expressive in this distinctly dark, ripe second wine from Cos d'Estournel. The 2014 is 55% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot, but it is the Merlot that feels quite ripe and seems to convey a feeling of heaviness at times. Stylistically, Pagodes is a lot more forward than Cos, while the impression of ripeness is also more accentuated. Overall, this is a pretty big second wine from the property. Rating: 89-91 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2015)

Dark crimson. Very sweet and charming. A mineral streak and some real freshness too. Not remotely meagre. Very forward and very ripe – St-Estèphe style. Gorgeous already. Drinking range: 2019 - 2032 Rating: 17+ Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2015)

Firm on the nose the start of the palate tight with a strong black cherry character, There is some sweet fruit in the middle but at the back the bramble freshness and firm tannins tend to hold back the fruit yet there is a sweetness on the finish. Drinking range: 2020 - 2030 Rating: 86-89 Derek Smedley MW, www.dereksmedleymw.co.uk (Apr 2015)

Another refined 2014 with super fine tannins, beautiful fruit and impressive balance. Medium body, bright acidity and a clean finish. Solid core of fruit. Second wine of Cos. Rating: 91-92 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Mar 2015)