Pagodes de Cos 2010

This big, rich, chocolaty wine is powerfully built with considerable extract. The wine is huge and solid, its tannins extreme and dense. At the same time, the juicy blackberry fruit drives the wine into an opulent aftertaste.

For the price of a bottle of Cos, you can buy four Pagodes (around €65), which, in terms of style, elegance, sensuality, freshness and craftsmanship, outshines some older vintages of the grand vin. All clear?

Bright loganberry and blackberry fruit pumps along, while hints of licorice root, singed apple wood and charcoal chime in on the finish. Pleasantly firm, open and accessible, this is engaging and lively but a bit shy on stuffing overall. Drink now through 2023.

Brambled black fruits open on the attack, with a salty caramel edge, sweet tobacco and smoked saffron. It is now at a great moment to drink, reflecting the quality of the 2010 vintage, and the increased precision that was possible in Pagodes at this time, three years after the opening of the new gravity-fed cellar.

A wine with plum, spice, and currant character with full body, and silky tannins. Lovely texture to this wine. Give it a year or two to soften. Second wine of Cos. Better in 2015.

Blackberries, black currants, thyme, flowers, smoke, and espresso crowd into the nose. Round, soft, lush, and packed with sweet, ripe, spicy currants, espresso, and dark chocolate in the mid-palate and fresh, silky finish. No decanting is needed, just pop, pour and enjoy. For a second wine, this is simply off the hook. Drink from 2022-2028.

Deep purple with lilac hues, dense core. On the nose it almost shows a certain Pinot Côte de Nuits affinity, with red plums and wild raspberries. Velvety palate, supple texture, good balance—almost a sensational selection for a second wine. As with the 2009, quite a great Pagodes!

Intense purplish-purple, dense core. On the nose it almost shows a certain Pinot-Côtes-de-Nuits affinity, with red plums and wild raspberries. Velvety palate, soft texture, good balance—almost a sensational selection for a second wine. Just like the 2009, a rather big Pagodes!

Very elegant, long, elegant and fresh.