| Region of Production: | Saint-Estèphe AOP |
| Winery Location: | Saint-Estèphe |
| Year Established: | 1811 |
| Classification: | second growth, Médoc 1855 |
Vineyard Holdings
91 ha
- 75% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 22% Merlot
- 1.5% Cabernet Franc
- 1.5% Petit Verdot
Top Wines Produced & Inaugural Vintages
- Cos d’Estournel
- Cos d’Estournel Blanc: Released as Bordeaux AOP. Inaugural vintage 2005
- Les Pagodes de Cos: Inaugural vintage 1994
Average Total Production
- 450,000 bottles
Summary
In the Year of the Comet Louis Gaspard d’Estournel recognized the quality issuing from a few inherited vines near the hamlet of Cos, and began selling wines under his own name. In reminiscence of his travels in the Far East, d’Estournel erected the estate’s chai, surmounted by Chinese pagodas and infused with eastern décor (there is no actual château). But Estournel’s exotic tastes and rapid vineyard expansion may have ruined him; in 1852, one year before his death, he sold the estate to English bankers. It changed hands several more times in the 19th century before landing in the lap of négociant Fernand Ginestet in 1917. Throughout the latter 20th century, Cos d’Estournel emerged as a true “Super Second” and, without doubt, the most prestigious and expensive wine of Saint-Estèphe. The estate also controls the nearby Château Marbuzet and a northern Médoc property called Goulée.
In 2000, Michel Reybier purchased the estate. The company’s website advertises its portfolio of hotels, vineyard properties from Tokaj to Bordeaux, and healthcare operations.
Style & Vinification Techniques
If Saint-Estèphe has a reputation for producing rugged and rustic wines, Cos d’Estournel is a complete departure from the local style. The modern wines are so polished, ample, and super-concentrated as to sustain both critical acclaim and attacks for being atypical. Recent vintages have focused more on Cabernet Sauvignon, with the grape amounting to 75-85% of the blend, but from the ‘90s through 2002 the grand vin more likely contained 35-45% Merlot. 80% new oak is the rule.
Producer Website: Château Cos d’Estournel