Château Cos d'Estournel
Château Cos d’Estournel
Bearing more than a passing resemblance to an Asian temple, complete with its unmissable and iconic sandstone pagodas, Château Cos d’Estournel (or simply “Cos”, as it is affectionately known) is one of the greatest properties in Bordeaux. Ranked as a Second Growth in the great classification of 1855, it is locked in an endless contest with the mighty Château Montrose for St-Estèphe supremacy each vintage.
Founded by Louis-Gaspard d'Estournel, Château Cos d’Estournel is adjacent to the legendary Lafite Rothschild – of course simply “Lafite” at that time – the two actual châteaux are visible from one another. It is said that Louis-Gaspard looked across at the mighty Lafite, at this time already famed for its extraordinary wine, from his lofty Médoc gravel banks and exclaimed that he must do the same. A man of boundless natural energy, d’Estournel continued to travel extensively whilst taking a very close involvement in the production of his exceptional wines – which became a particular favourite of British officers in India as early as 1838.
2000 saw the arrival of current owner Michel Reybier, who felt an instant pull towards the eccentricities and profound brilliance of both Château Cos d’Estournel and its great founder. It is fair to say that Reybier has been an excellent custodian of this most storied and mythical estate. Now, Cos stands at the forefront of the Super Second wave, frequently challenging and not-so-infrequently surpassing the First Growths of the Médoc.
