Cos d'Estournel

History of Château Cos d'Estournel

The history of Château Cos d'Estournel begins in 1791, when Louis-Gaspard d'Estournel inherited a 14-hectare vineyard situated on the Cos hill, in the Saint-Estèphe appellation. A visionary, Louis-Gaspard saw immense potential in this terroir. With an audacity that defied the conventions of his time, he gradually expanded the estate, acquiring the finest plots and not hesitating to bypass traditional négociant networks to ship his wines himself to distant destinations, notably India. This pioneering trade earned him the nickname "Maharajah of Saint-Estèphe". 

True to his spirit of innovation, Louis-Gaspard drew inspiration from his travels to conceive the château's singular architecture, with its famous oriental-influenced pagodas that still overlook the cellars today. Although he died before seeing his wine officially classified, his pursuit of excellence was rewarded in 1855, when Château Cos d'Estournel was recognised as a Second Cru Classé in the famous classification of Médoc wines. Since 2000, under the ownership of Michel Reybier, the estate has continually modernised its facilities while preserving the legacy of its founder. 

Robert Parker awarded a perfect score of 100/100 to the 2009 and 2016 vintages of Château Cos d'Estournel, wines of exceptional quality. The 2010 vintage follows closely with 99/100, while 2017 and 2005 receive 98/100. The years 2019, 1928 and 2000, rated 97/100, attest to the consistency of this legendary Saint-Estèphe cru.

Terroirs and Vines of Château Cos d'Estournel

Château Cos d'Estournel benefits from an exceptionally varied terroir, located in the commune of Saint-Estèphe, in the heart of the Médoc. The name "Cos", which means "hill of pebbles" in old Gascon, perfectly reflects the unique geology of this vineyard. Spanning 100 hectares, the estate rests primarily on deep gravel soils, ideal for growing Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

The vineyard is divided into a multitude of plots, each managed according to its exposure and the nature of its soil. This extremely precise plot-by-plot management allows the full complexity and richness of the Cos d'Estournel terroir to be expressed. Planted with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, with a few rows of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the estate's vines are predominantly 45 years old, with some even exceeding 80 years. These old vines bring unparalleled depth and structure to the wines, perfectly reflecting the complexity of the soils from which they draw their essence.

The maritime climate of Saint-Estèphe, marked by the proximity of the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic Ocean, on the left bank, moderates meteorological extremes, encouraging a slow ripening of the berries. This allows the aromatic freshness of the grapes to be preserved while developing great complexity.

Vinifications of Château Cos d'Estournel

Vinification at Château Cos d'Estournel is a rigorously orchestrated art, combining traditional techniques with modern innovations. Since 2008, the estate has adopted a fully gravity-fed approach, a first in the Bordeaux region. This method allows the grapes and juices to be handled with the utmost gentleness, avoiding the use of pumps. Every movement of the grape, from sorting to bottling, is carried out solely by gravity, thus preserving the integrity of the fruit and the finesse of the tannins.

The harvest is done by hand, with the grape bunches carefully picked and placed in crates to avoid any deterioration. The rigorous sorting that follows ensures that only the finest berries are selected, contributing to the exceptional quality of the cuvées. Vinification takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats of various sizes to respect the diversity of the plots. The wines are aged in French oak barrels, 80% of which are new, for 18 to 24 months depending on the vintage.

The Cuvées of Château Cos d'Estournel

Château Cos d'Estournel offers several cuvées that reflect the full richness and diversity of its terroir. The Fine Wine of Cos d'Estournel, which is the estate's flagship cuvée, stands out for its power and elegance. Crafted primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon, it displays great depth, complex aromas of black fruits, spices and cedar, as well as an excellent ageing potential.

La Pagodes de Cos is the estate's second wine, produced with the same care as the Fine Wine, but sourced from the estate's young vines. This wine is more approachable in its youth, with a softer texture and a more immediate fruity expression.

For white wine lovers, the estate also produces Cos d'Estournel Blanc and Pagodes de Cos Blanc, elegant and refreshing wines with aromas of citrus and white fruits. 

Le Goulée by Cos d'Estournel is another interesting cuvée, crafted from vines located further north in the Médoc. This wine stands out for its freshness and vivacity, while retaining a fine tannic structure.

Finally, the estate also offers the COS100 cuvée, a limited edition composed exclusively of Merlot, harvested in 2015. Only 100 double magnums and 10 Balthazars were produced, offering a unique experience to the rare few lucky enough to taste it.

The wines of Saint-Estèphe, a prestigious appellation of the Bordeaux vineyard, are distinguished by their elegance and longevity. Among the finest vintages, one finds the years 1975, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989, and 1990, which impressed enthusiasts with their power and complexity. The following decades were equally remarkable, with exceptional vintages such as 1995, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, and more recently 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 . These years have confirmed Saint-Estèphe's ability to produce wines combining finesse and depth, emblematic of the Bordeaux terroir.

The Second Crus Classés of 1855 form a prestigious category, grouping together iconic estates that often rival the first growths in quality. Among them, discover Château Brane-Cantenac and Château Durfort-Vivens, both located in Margaux, as well as Château Lascombes, Château Rauzan-Ségla and Château Rauzan-Gassies. In Saint-Julien, enthusiasts will appreciate the wines of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, Château Léoville Las Cases, Château Gruaud Larose, and the celebrated Château Léoville Poyferré and Château Léoville Barton. Also not to be missed are Château Cos d'Estournel and Château Montrose in Saint-Estèphe, as well as the unmissable Château Pichon Longueville Baron and Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande in Pauillac. 

Château Cos d'Estournel is far more than a simple wine estate. It is a place steeped in history, where boldness and innovation are combined with respect for tradition. Whether with its Fine Wine, its more accessible cuvées or its limited editions, this estate embodies the quintessence of Bordeaux expertise. To purchase a wine from Château Cos d'Estournel is to treat yourself to a unique experience — that of a wine that is at once powerful, refined and deeply rooted in its terroir.