Pagodes de Cos 2013 (1x75cl)

Second wines are how you get the house style of a serious estate without the main-label price, and Pagodes de Cos comes from Cos d'Estournel in Saint-Estèphe. Usually made to drink earlier than the first wine, too.

With over ten years in bottle it doesn't need much waiting — half an hour open is fine. A solid choice for a dinner where you want the label to mean something.

Tasting notes

Saint-Estèphe blends at this age typically show dark plum and cassis edging into savoury spice, cedar and leather, with tannins that have started to settle.