Les Pagodes de Cos Blanc 2018

It is no secret that Les Pagodes de Cos Blanc is one of the best value second wines from Bordeaux.  This serine and floral second wine from the storied Second Growth estate Cos d’Estournel should be in any bargain-conscious oenophile’s repertoire.  With plenty of floral and citrus aromas, Les Pagodes de Cos Blanc is a unique offering from the Left Bank appellation of Saint-Estèphe.  Though this portion of the Médoc is known for crafting powerful, energetic red wines, Pagodes de Cos Blanc is a delightfully crisp, playful alternative.

Cos d’Estournel has a long and rich history that is unique among the many estates on the Left Bank.  The exotic, pagoda-like architecture is striking and conjures up images of distant lands in the mind’s eye.  The unconventional is embraced here, and it serves this renegade Second Growth well.  The property’s origins begin with one man – Louis Gaspard d’Estournel.  His love of Cos d’Estournel bordered upon an obsession, and he would frequently drive himself into debt snapping up as many parcels of land around him as he could.  He expanded the vineyard holdings from 14 to 45 hectares within his lifetime. Louis was a foreword-thinking man with an entrepreneurial spirit.  He did not participate in the negociantsystem and spent the majority of his time shipping his wines to foreign countries like India.  Since his wines were so concentrated and powerful, they often arrived in fantastic condition.  Louis Gaspard d’Estournel was one of the first Bordeaux winemakers to cater to the global marketplace, earning him the title, The Maharaja of St-Estèphe.  Unfortunately, he passed away before he could bear witness to Château Cos d’Estournel being classified as a Second Growth. 
 
The property is currently managed by hospitality mogul, Michel Reybeir, who shares the same passion for the estate as his esteemed predecessor.  Quality of the wine has never been better.  Though Pagodes de Cos Blanc is a newer addition to the wines of Cos d’Estournel, it is a worthy choice for white wine lovers. The viticultural team at Cos d’Estournal has sixteen years of experience in crafting white wine and brings the same rigorous attention and know-how to the table.  A combination of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon go into the final blend and the oldest vines are 36 years old, making them worthy additions to this exciting second wine.  The grapes are vinified in a gravity flow winery to preserve the softness and freshness of the wine.
The personality of Pagodes de Cos Blanc is full of contradictions, which makes it so captivating.  Pagodes de Cos Blanc is a mixture of steely, citrus intensity coupled with delicate and tranquil floral qualities.   There is an unbridled elegance to this wine.  One can expect aromas of citrus fruits, white florals, and even aromas of the tropics.  Pagodes de Cos Blanc is a beautifully integrated, friendly wine and among one of the favorites of the team at Laguna Cellar.  We can assure you, once you discover Pagodes de Cos Blanc, you’ll feel the same way.
 

"The 2018 Les Pagodes de Cos Blanc is a new wine in this range built around a core of Sauvignon Blanc with a touch (7%) of Sémillon. Rich and layered, with striking freshness, the Pagodes Blanc has a lot to offer. Aging in oak, with batonnage, give the citrus and floral notes an extra kick of texture, while preserving a good bit of freshness as well. The decision to use more Sémillon in the Cos d'Estournel Blanc resulted in excess Sauvignon Blanc that was then used to created Pagodes Blanc. Stylistically, Pagodes Blanc is quite close to previous editions of Cos d'Estournel Blanc." - Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, (April, 2019), Rating: 90-92

"A blend of 93% Sauvignon Blanc and 7% Sémillon aging in 3% new barriques, the 2018 Pagodes de Cos Blanc (13.67% alcohol) opens with notes of lemon curd, lime cordial and fresh white grapefruit with touches of fresh hay, chalk dust and honeysuckle. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers bold freshness and loads of citrus fruit layers with a lovely chalkiness to the long finish." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate, Ratings: 90-92