Chateau Cos d’Estournel

Château Cos d'Estournel is located in the northernmost part of the Médoc in the Saint-Estéphe appellation. This remarkable and quirky structure was built in the early 19th century by Louis-Gaspard d’Estournel. At first glance, this château might seem like a grand folly, but if you ever visit this impressive palace in an oriental style, be prepared to be immediately enveloped by the omnipresent exotic atmosphere of an Indian bazaar. The winery is named after the founder's surname and partly after the stony-gravelly hill that is full of pebbles. The word “Cos” means “pebbly hill” in the old Gascon dialect.

The gravelly slopes on a limestone base provide promising soil for an excellent vineyard. Its porosity does not allow water retention, forcing the vine roots to dig deeper to the limestone foundation. This slows the sap flow and concentrates it. Thanks to the unique combination of soil, the grapes then acquire an exceptional and distinctive taste. Originally, the estate served as stables and wine cellars.

Louis-Gaspard tirelessly traveled across the ocean to India and Arabia, promoting and selling his wine, and brought back wild horses, which he bred on the lush meadows surrounding the vineyard. During one sea voyage, he noticed that wine stored in barrels on the ship had significantly improved. Thus, he took part of the cargo bound for India back to France. The wine from these barrels was then offered to his guests, who were thrilled with it. Perhaps it was during this period that the almost continuous fame of Cos d'Estournel wine began.