Producer

Château Cos d’Estournel

SUMMARY

Located in the St. Estephe appellation, Chateau Cos d’Estournel is a red wine of class and distinction. The vineyards are located on an excellent spot for grape growing, a south-facing gravel ridge with a high clay content, which is why it has an unrivalled reputation for its excellent wines that have been produced since 1811. Demand for wine produced as Chateau Cos d’Estournel, which is named after its original owner, Louis Gaspard d’Estournel, grew very quickly after its founding. Chateau Cos d’Estournel is now owned by The Tailan Group, a multi-billion dollar conglomerate with an interest in many businesses across various industries. The company and its wines have been known and acclaimed for centuries. Chateau Cos d’Estournel has a total of 82 hectares under vine, with 66 of those hectares planted with red grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

Originally constructed by Louis-Gaspard d’Estournel, the Chateau of Chateau Cos d’Estournel is as much of a draw to tourists as its vineyards due to its bizarre oriental architecture. The premier wine-producing estate in St-Estéphe, Chateau Cos d’Estournel was originally owned by Louis XIV’s finance minister, Nicolas Fouquet. Described as a ‘bastion of elegance and distinction’ on its website, this Bordeaux château overlooks the Gironde estuary in St-Estephe. With 66 hectares under vines, 60% planted with red grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, it produces 100% estate-grown wines that are fermented in oak barrels before ageing for 18 months. The estate’s wine production methods produce wines that are characteristically dark and full-bodied, with supple tannins and fruity aromas. In 2000, the estate was bought by food industry magnate Michel Reybier, who appointed the estate’s manager, Aymeric de Gironde, as the winemaking director. Having been purchased by Reybier, the estate saw significant investment in updating its infrastructure, modernising its winemaking facilities while still keeping the design and aesthetic in concert with the unusual nature of the original Chateau. The cellars of Chateau Cos d’Estournel are unique in that they are entirely operated by gravity. Not part of the cellar makes use of pumps to move the wine around and isothermal, cone-shaped, stainless steel vats allow for exacting temperature control. This scientific and cutting edge approach to winemaking ensures that the wines of Chateau Cos d’Estournel are deemed to be amongst the best in Saint-Émilion, due to their consistently high quality. The wines produced by Chateau Cos d’Estournel are best described as powerhouses, with rich fruit flavours and firm tannins. The tasting notes of the estate Grand Cru include aromas of spices and cedarwood, together with ripe black fruit. These wines are known for their ageing potential and can be cellared safely for up to 40 years without losing too much intensity or complexity.