2020 Les Pagodes de Cos (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Saint-Estephe, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
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A newly arriving container filled with top rated Bordeaux, these 2020 Bordeaux selections boast outstanding quality across the board at unparalleled value pricing, from a vintage of “brilliant wines” according to the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley and described by Vinous critic Antonio Galloni as “a year brimming with phenomenal wines at all levels, from the big names down to bottles the average consumer can still afford to purchase by the case.”

Although there were no significant heat spikes throughout the growing season, 2020 was a warm growing season overall in Bordeaux, with generally well-timed rain in the Spring followed by extremely dry summer weather that prevented the development of mildew. While summer drought conditions led to smaller berries and yields for Cabernet Sauvignon, mid-August rains on the Right Bank plumped up Merlot and cool September evenings during the last phase of ripening preserved freshness in the wines. Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson noted that “clay-limestone soils did brilliantly against the heat of the summer, favoring the St Emilion plateau” with an impressive array of wines also coming from the gravel soils of Pauillac and St Julien. Describing the white wines of 2020, Anson declares there are “plenty of delicious bottles,” the earlier harvest delivering “exotic fruit flavors with grip and personality.” Describing 2020 as “an incredibly exciting vintage for Bordeaux,” Antonio Galloni of Vinous finds remarkable quality in each of the Left Bank appellations, while calling Saint Emilion “one of the sweet spots of 2020” and noting “readers will find a bevy of compelling wines from satellite appellations” including Haut-Medoc and Fronsac. Called “an incredible classic vintage” by Jeb Dunnuck producing “a solid swath of cellar-worthy buys in the $65-and-under range” according to the Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth, critic James Suckling summed up the vintage well, declaring “if you buy or drink a bottle of top-rated 2020 Bordeaux, you are going to be more than happy. In fact, you most likely will be elated” and noting “many of the wines give pleasure for a young wine but the best will age for decades ahead.”

Summing it up as “a great modern-day Bordeaux vintage,” Antonio Galloni notes the wines are “less extracted, more vibrant and, frankly, much more fun to drink,” this well priced, wide-ranging offer a terrific opportunity to stock up on an array of age worthy Bordeaux from an exceptional 2020 vintage that according to Neal Martin of Vinous “delivers the goods.”

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Showing even better from bottle than barrel, the 2020 Pagodes De Cos checks in as 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34 % Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Remarkably elegant and balanced, it has a great nose of red and black fruits, sandalwood, tobacco leaf, and spice as well as medium to full-bodied richness on the palate. It's shockingly good and up with the top second wines out there. It will evolve for at least two decades.

94 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Mar 2023)

The 2020 Les Pagodes de Cos is dark, sumptuous and super-expressive. There is an element of mystery to the 2020, it’s a wine that is not ready to show all of its charms just yet. Ripe dark cherry, plum, new leather, licorice, tobacco, incense and dried herbs all build nicely in a Pagodes that balances fruit richness and energy.

93 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Feb 2023)

Spicy redcurrants with dark chocolate, as well as bark and black tea on the nose. Full-bodied with firm and fine tannins that are nicely velvet in texture. Delicious and savory finish. Needs four or five years to come together. Try after 2026.

93 points, James Suckling (May 2023)

Silky, velvety texture, with lovely bright acidities that lift and carry the raspberry and damson fruits. Great stuff, spiced turmeric and saffron notes, black tea and liqourice root. Fine tannins but there are plenty of them, and this will continue to improve over the next few years in bottle.

93 points, Jane Anson (Feb 2023)

An enticing style, with sparkles of anise and black tea adding nuance to a core of lushly textured loganberry and mulberry fruit. Reveals a light kiss of incense on the open-knit finish. A crowd-pleaser for mid-term drinking. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2034. 12,000 cases made, 1,800 cases imported.

92 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Mar 2023)

This second wine is complex and structured. At same time, it has the proper openness and precocity of a second wine. Likely to age smoothly, the wine will be ready from 2026.

92 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (Apr 2023)

Alcohol By Volume: 13.0%

#FRCEME20AE

$49.88

Compare At: $54.99

51 bottles in stock. Ships in 1 to 2 business days.

This item is available in original wood case. Would you like to include the wood case in your order? There is an additional $12.00 shipping fee for wood cases.

Available in Original Wood Case of 6

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