Cos d'Estournel

History of Château Cos d'Estournel

The history of Château Cos d'Estournel began in 1791, when Louis-Gaspard d'Estournel inherited a 14-hectare vineyard situated on the hill of Cos, in the Saint-Estèphe appellation. A visionary, Louis-Gaspard saw immense potential in this terroir. With a boldness that defied the conventions of his time, he gradually expanded the estate, acquiring the best plots and not hesitating to bypass traditional trading networks to ship his wines himself to distant destinations, particularly 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 unique architecture of the château, with its famous pagodas of oriental influence that still overlook the cellars today. Although he died before seeing his wine officially classified, his quest for excellence was crowned in 1855, when Château Cos d'Estournel was recognised as a Second Cru Classé during the famous classification of Médoc wines. Since 2000, under the ownership of Michel Reybier, the estate has continuously modernised its facilities while preserving the legacy of its founder. 

Robert Parker has awarded the 2009 and 2016 vintages of Château Cos d'Estournel the perfect score of 100/100, wines of exceptional quality. The 2010 vintage followed with 99/100, while 2017 and 2005 received 98/100. The 2019, 1928 and 2000 vintages, rated 97/100, bear witness 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 primarily rests on deep gravel soils, perfect for cultivating Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

The vineyard is divided into a multitude of plots, each exploited according to its exposure and soil type. This extremely precise plot management allows for the expression of all the complexity and richness of the Cos d'Estournel terroir. Planted with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, with a few rows of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the estate's vines are mostly 45 years old, with some even over 80 years old. These old vines bring incomparable 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, tempers weather extremes, favouring slow maturation of the berries. This allows for the preservation of the grapes' aromatic freshness while developing great complexity.

Winemaking at Château Cos d'Estournel

Winemaking at Château Cos d'Estournel is a rigorously orchestrated art, combining traditional techniques and modern innovations. Since 2008, the estate has adopted an entirely gravity-fed approach, a first in Bordeaux. This method allows for the gentlest handling of grapes and juices, avoiding the use of pumps. Every movement of the grape, from sorting to bottling, is done solely by gravity, thus preserving the integrity of the fruit and the finesse of the tannins.

The harvest is manual, with bunches carefully picked and placed in small crates to avoid any alteration. The rigorous sorting that follows allows only the best berries to be selected, contributing to the exceptional quality of the cuvées. Vinification takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats of different 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 all the richness and diversity of its terroir. The Grand Vin de Cos d'Estournel, which is the estate's flagship cuvée, is distinguished by its power and elegance. Made primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon, it presents great depth, complex aromas of black fruits, spices and cedar, as well as excellent ageing potential.

Les Pagodes de Cos is the estate's second wine, produced with the same care as the Grand Vin, but from the estate's young vines. This wine is more accessible in its youth, with a softer texture and a more immediate fruity expression.

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

Goulée by Cos d'Estournel is another interesting cuvée, made from vines located further north in the Médoc. This wine is distinguished by its freshness and vivacity, while maintaining a beautiful 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 privileged few who will have the chance 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 are the years 1975, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989 and 1990, which have impressed wine enthusiasts with their power and complexity. The following decades have not been outdone, 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 Growths of 1855 constitute 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, wine enthusiasts will appreciate the wines from Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, Château Léoville Las Cases, Château Gruaud Larose, and the famous Château Léoville Poyferré and Château Léoville Barton. Don't miss Château Cos d'Estournel and Château Montrose in Saint-Estèphe, as well as the essential Château Pichon Longueville Baron and Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande in Pauillac.

Château Cos d'Estournel is much more than just a wine estate. It is a place steeped in history, where boldness and innovation combine with respect for tradition. Whether with its Grand Vin, its more accessible cuvées or its limited editions, this estate embodies the quintessence of Bordeaux expertise. Buying a wine from Château Cos d'Estournel is to treat oneself to a unique experience, that of a wine that is at once powerful, refined and deeply rooted in its terroir.