Château Cos d'Estournel
Château Cos d'Estournel
#PROPERTY: History & Terroir
History of Château Cos d'Estournel
Château Cos d'Estournel, founded by Louis Gaspard d'Estournel, is an exceptional estate in the Médoc. Its history goes back over 200 years, shaped by visionary figures and periods of daring and excellence.
In 1791, Louis Gaspard d'Estournel inherited the Cos and Pomys estates, comprising 14 hectares of vines. By this time, he had already developed an interest in the Orient, which greatly influenced his choice of architecture when building the château in the early 1830s. Indeed, the château, deeply inspired by Oriental architecture, is the fruit of Louis-Gaspard d'Estournel's taste for India. It was also during this period that Louis-Gaspard d'Estournel, nicknamed the "Maharajah of Saint-Estèphe", made a name for himself by introducing "retour des Indes" wines, transported in barrels to Bombay or Calcutta before returning to Europe, giving them a sought-after distinctiveness.
Convinced of the hill's exceptional potential, Louis Gaspard d'Estournel took bold steps to develop his estate. He enlarged the vineyard to 45 hectares and made countless technical improvements, demonstrating his constant quest for innovation. His efforts were rewarded during his lifetime, when the wine trade recognized his work and awarded him the status of Deuxième Grand Cru du Médoc. Marked by an avant-garde vision and a constant concern for excellence, the estate today boasts a 100-hectare vineyard, made up of vines between 80 and 100 years old, carefully preserved for their heritage value and their contribution to the quality of the wines. Massal selection is favoured to guarantee continuity of style in the wines, as part of an environmentally-friendly approach. This strategy reflects Château Cos d'Estournel's long-term vision, dedicated to producing unique and fascinating wines.
Subsequently, general management was entrusted to the Merlaut family, then to Jean-Guillaume Prats until January 2013, and then to Aymeric de Gironde, who replaced him until 2017. Today, the singular history of Château Cos d'Estournel continues to be written under the direction of Michel Reybier, a passionate entrepreneur who perpetuates the heritage and excellence of Cos d'Estournel with commitment and loyalty.
Who owns Château Cos d'Estournel?
Before being acquired by Michel Reybier in 2000, Château Cos d'Estournel was bought by Fernand Ginestet, a famous Bordeaux wine merchant, in 1917.
Since 2000, Michel Reybier has been the current owner of Château Cos d'Estournel. In addition to his involvement in the world of wine, Michel Reybier is also active in other sectors, notably the luxury hotel business, with renowned establishments such as Les Fermes de Marie in Megève and La Réserve in Geneva.
This entrepreneur is committed to perpetuating Louis Gaspard d'Estournel's vision and taking a decisive technical lead in his quest for excellence.
The architecture of Château Cos d'Estournel
Château Cos d'Estournel is much more than just a wine estate. Its remarkable architecture makes it a true cultural jewel in the heart of the appellation. Built in the 1830s, Château Cos d'Estournel's palace is deeply inspired by the Far East. It features a series of monumental pagodas, majestic elephant statues and an impressive carved wooden entrance door, taken from the palace of the Sultan of Zanzibar.
This exotic architecture testifies to the boldness and independence of spirit of its founder, Louis Gaspard d'Estournel, who never hesitated to break away from the conventions of his time. Today, these values continue to inspire the estate's teams, who dare to make innovative choices in pursuit of their founder's vision.
The terroir of Château Cos d'Estournel
Located on the left bank of Bordeaux, the terroir of Château Cos d'Estournel, in the heart of the Nord Médoc, is exceptional for its undulating topography and varied soils. The name "Cos", meaning "hill of pebbles" in old Gascon, reflects the stony nature of the soil.
The vines of Château Cos d'Estournel grow on a deep gravel plateau between the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic Ocean, with two slopes facing east and south, offering gravel and clay-rich soils. It benefits from an oceanic climate that protects the vines from extreme weather conditions. The presence of a clay vein, Ruisseau de la Jalle, running through the property adds further diversity to the soils. This unique combination of soils and exposure enables the winemakers to cultivate a wide variety of grape varieties, producing wines of remarkable complexity. Another typical feature of the appellation's climate is that the wind sweeping across the terroir purifies the air and combats excess humidity, preventing the development of mildew.
Viticultural practices are adapted to each parcel, guaranteeing respect for the natural balance of the ecosystem
The cellar of Château Cos d'Estournel
The cellar at Château Cos d'Estournel is a place where wine-making and ageing take place with precision and care.
The main building, adorned with monumental pagodas, has been completely renovated, and a unique winery is currently under construction, designed with a gravity system to guarantee the best conditions for wine production and storage.
Equipped with modern technology and respect for tradition, this winery enables the production of wines of exceptional quality. Grapes are carefully sorted before being vinified separately according to plot. The wines are then matured in selected oak barrels, where they acquire their aromatic complexity and structure. This closely monitored process ensures the production of singular wines that reflect the estate's exceptional terroir.
#VINS DU DOMAINE : Appellations and Cuvées
Saint-Estèphe appellation
The Saint-Estèphe appellation, located in the Médoc, produces red wines renowned for their power, structure and elegance. The vineyards benefit from diversified soils and a favorable oceanic climate. The wines, mainly made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, offer aromas of black fruits and spices, with refreshing acidity and firm tannins. Renowned estates such as Château Cos d'Estournel and Château Montrose produce highly prized wines.
Discover our full selection of Saint-Estèphe wines
Château Cos d'Estournel vintages
Château Cos D'Estournel Saint Estèphe 2ème Grand Cru Classé
Cos D'Estournel blanc
Pagodes de Cos
Pagodes de Cos blanc
G D'Estournel
Goulée by Cos D'Estournel
Château Cos d'Estournel produces a diverse range of wines, reflecting the richness of its terroir and the expertise of its winemakers.
Its emblematic Grand Vin is a complex blend of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with hints of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This wine offers a rich, balanced taste experience, with deep aromas and elegant structure. Its production is completed by Goulée by Cos d'Estournel, a more accessible wine, characterized by intense red fruit flavors and supple tannins on the palate. As well as Les Pagodes de Cos, a charming second wine, with parcels of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The estate also produces Cos d'Estournel blanc, a powerful, bright wine made from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.
To preserve the quality and finesse of its wines, bottling takes place after a two-year ageing period, and the entire winemaking process is carried out without the use of pumps. Finally, to complement its Grand Vin.
The best vintages of Château Cos d'Estournel, Saint-Estèphe, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023
At what price can I buy Château Cos d'Estournel?
The purchase price of Château Cos d'Estournel can vary according to several factors, including the vintage, the wine's perceived quality, its rarity and market demand. In general, wines from this estate are considered luxury wines and can command high prices. To find out the exact price of Château Cos d'Estournel, you'll find our full selection of wines available to buy online
#IN BRIEF : Figures
Region: Bordeaux
Appellation : Saint-Estèphe
Surface area : 100 Hectares
Red grape varieties : 60% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 40% Merlot
White grape varieties: 80% Cabernet-Franc, 20% Semillon
Vine cultivation : Raisonnée