At first glance, Cos d’Estournel captivates with the originality of its architecture. Inspired by the founder’s taste for India, the estate’s oriental inspiration has made it an iconic Bordeaux château.
Situated in the northern Médoc, Cos d’Estournel is not easily discovered, maintaining a sense of mystery behind its imposing carved wooden door.
Entirely dedicated to wine, the main building, topped by monumental pagodas, houses the cellars. The decision taken by the founder has never been called into question: here, it’s the wine that inhabits the château.
The origins
Founded by Louis-Gaspard d’Estournel in the early 19th century, Cos d’Estournel was an immediate success, exporting as far afield as Asia. The owner soon drew inspiration from his successes in the Orient to build one of the most remarkable and recognizable châteaux in the Médoc, if not France.
This extravagance led to the bankruptcy of Louis-Gaspard d’Estournel, who was forced to sell the estate in the 1850s. More than a century of ownership changes followed. This instability led to a decline in the quality of the estate’s wines until 2000, when businessman Michel Reybier took over.
Back in the spotlight
Michel Reybier is pulling out all the stops to restore Cos d’Estournel’s reputation, including the construction of a hyper-modern new winery designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte, a star in the world of winery architecture.
It didn’t take long for Cos d’Estournel to rise to the top again, and join the group of “super-seconds”, those Médoc grands crus that would now rank among the premier crus.
Modernity according to Cos d’Estournel
Cos d’Estournel offers five wines, a way of expressing the estate’s identity for all budgets.
The Pagodas of CosThe estate’s second wine is bright, silky and charming. This cuvée evokes the spontaneity of a lunch with friends, the taste of life’s simple pleasures. Homemade blackcurrant syrup, a bowl of freshly picked red berries, a jar of citrus jam delicately opened… all images full of gourmandise and desire. A spirited, gourmet wine.
Cos d’Estournel2nd growth is described as opulent, fascinating and voluptuous. Like a solitary adventurer who has sailed across the seas, he initially seems secretive and intriguing. Then he reveals himself, slowly. Step by step, in tiny strokes, he evokes joyous celebrations in friendly villages. Smells, colors and flavors are gradually revealed. Elegant, fascinating charm, between restraint and sensuality.
G d’EstournelIt’s precious, warm and elegant. It evokes the wonder of an explorer returning from the Far East, filled with precious memories. Gourmet fruit, an incense-scented breeze, the glint of a mother-of-pearl box and these travel memories are suddenly revived, between refinement and opulence.
Goulée By Cos d’Estournel is an airy, gourmand and generous wine. Wild and immediate, frank and generous, assertive and smiling, he reveals his unvarnished personality.
The whites are not forgotten either!
Finally, Cos d’Estournel also has the distinction of offering white wines.
Here too, a first and a second wine are offered, in a very Bordeaux style, somewhere between gourmet and straightforward.
Cos d’Estournel white a chiseled, powerful and impetuous wine. It evokes the appetite of a white fruit stall in the sun, the strength and delicacy of summer memories.
Cos Blanc pagodadescribed as intense, delicate and intimate. It inspires serenity, the grace of time slowing down or the simple pleasure of reunion. A moment of calm, between intensity and delicacy.
An emblematic estate on Bordeaux’s right bank, Cos d’Estournel is an essential part of the Saint-Estèphe appellation. So it’s on the verge of excellence, vintage after vintage! Don’t hesitate to taste it for a special occasion.
Champagne and wine lover ! 🥂🍷
