Les Pagodes de Cos St. Estèphe 2001

The 2001 Cos d'Estournel St. Estèphe is one of the finest wines of the excellent 2001 vintage, eclipsing even its first growth neighbors in Pauillac and Margaux. And the 2001 Les Pagodes de Cos is not far behind the Grand Vin in quality or style. At present, Les Pagodes de Cos is in fact the more accessible and enjoyable wine, while Cos d'Estournel remains the firmer more structured sibling. The 2001 Les Pagodes de Cos is elegant and immediately engaging, almost sumptuous as it regales the senses with a haunting bouquet of blackberry, cassis, licorice, and spice – all nicely wrapped in a light layer of toasted oak. On the palate, the medium-bodied 2001 Les Pagodes de Cos is, perhaps, even more impressive than its aromatic profile as this excellent St. Estèphe reveals tremendous charm, concentration, purity, and texture. The multilayered 2001 Les Pagodes Cos is a joy to drink now and will likely remain so for years to come. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2012.

What does one eat with a wine the likes of the 2001 Les Pagodes de Cos? How about anything one wants? The 2001 Les Pagodes de Cos can match almost any classic dish you can imagine. However, we suggest doubling the pleasure of this wine by serving it with tender veal or pork cutlets, prepared with mushrooms, lentils, and fresh herbs; or roasted game birds, served with caramelized onions and puréed mashed potatoes. Either dish provides hearty companionship and plenty of gustatory pleasure, but these are just a few culinary favorites. Simply, this wine will do well with a wide range of foods, but one of the best ways to highlight great Bordeaux is to pair it with a meal of equal stature, so as you like it. Enjoy!

Cos d'Estournel is the leading wine of St. Estèphe and one of Bordeaux's true super stars. Under the direction of Bruno Prats Cos d'Estournel has achieved first growth status. Since the legendary 1982 vintage Cos d'Estournel has not missed an opportunity to fashion compelling wine, even in difficult vintages. And under the relatively new ownership of Michel Reybier, winemaker Jean-Guillaume Prats continues to push the quality at Cos d'Estournel to even higher levels, if one can imagine. Les Pagodes de Cos is the second label of Cos d'Estournel, but there is nothing second about this wine as it is a super St. Estèphe in its own right. Both Les Pagodes de Cos and the Grand Vin Cos d'Estournel consistently possess a combination of elegance, breed, and concentration. These are remarkably approachable wines in their youth, especially Les Pagodes de Cos, and this is attributed to the relatively high percentage of Merlot that is used in the cépage. Yet, the wines of Cos d'Estournel typically possess great longevity and a propensity for evolving into a seamless, singular style of claret, without peer. Cos d'Estournel fashions truly unique wines: Bordeaux that can be as exotic and hauntingly beautiful as the pagoda like château that commands the property. St. Estèphe St. Estèphe is one of the four precious jewels in the Haut-Médoc diadem. Although one could argue the merits of a few of the Médoc's lesser know jewels such as Listrac and Moulis, St. Estèphe, Pauillac, St. Julien, and Margaux are universally acknowledged to be the Médoc's crown jewels. The 2,821 acre appellation of St. Estèphe sits astride the Gironde River, at the point where the river widens on its rush to the sea. It is also the Médoc appellation farthest from the city of Bordeaux. Here the soil is heavier and the wines are generally more dense and powerful than in the other three great Haut-Médoc appellations, lending themselves to extensive aging and earning the wines of St. Estèphe a reputation for longevity. Château Montrose and Cos d'Estournel are the most compelling wines of St. Estèphe and two of the most consistently outstanding red wines produced in all Bordeaux.