2023 Château Cos d'Estournel

The 2023 Cos d'Estournel is a contemporary classic in the making, beautifully expressed through a lighter approach to extraction. This has yielded greater sensuality and harmony without losing the estate's characteristic power and authority. From the glass emerge deep aromas of cassis, wild berries, orange peel, and exotic spices, surrounded by well-integrated new wood. The wine is medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a concentrated core of fruit, beautifully supple tannins, and a cool, seamless profile.

Blend

65% Cabernet Sauvignon
33% Merlot
Remaining part: Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot

The wine has an alcohol content of 13% and ages in 50% new oak barrels.

Vineyards and Terroir of Cos d'Estournel

Cos d'Estournel is situated next to Lafite-Rothschild, yet the vineyards are distinctly different. They rise from the banks of the Jalle de Breuil, the small stream separating Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe, to an altitude of 26 meters above sea level. The clay-gravel vineyards of Cos are located on the plateau and slopes, ranging from the eastern plots overlooking Lafite to the fully south-facing plots overlooking the Gironde. This variety of exposure, as well as an average vine age of 55 years, gives the wine its fullness, power, and abundance.

Innovation and Evolution

The past two decades have seen significant evolution: herbicides were banned, and experiments with cover crops began in 2002; a new gravity-driven winery was built in 2008; and winemaking and harvest dates have evolved. In the past, the wines sometimes flirted with extremes; by pushing boundaries, you sometimes cross them. Recent vintages range from the more elegant profiles of 2016, 2017, and 2019, to the heavier style of 2020 and 2022. With the 2023 vintage, the team seems to have certainly found their way: with four seeds per berry and tannins that were less ripe than in 2022, Technical Director Dominique Arangoïts opted for a cautious approach to extraction, with very little crushing, full use of Cos's gravity-driven winery, and macerations that were both significantly cooler and shorter than the norm. The result is a very refined, unpretentious Cos, with only 13% alcohol, which reflects the power of this terroir with new sensuality and refinement.

History and Innovation

The former owner and namesake, Louis Gaspard d'Estournel, known as the Maharaja of Saint-Estèphe, decorated the château in an Indian style and hosted grand parties, but lived beyond his means. By 1852, he was completely destitute and forced to sell his estate. He died a year later. Today, Cos d'Estournel is one of the most advanced wineries, where every step from the harvest to the aging of the bottles is meticulously controlled and executed with the utmost care. The vinification process is designed so that the wine is moved without pumps, with all operations performed by gravity. In 1855, the Château was granted 2nd Grand Cru Classé status.

FUN FACT: In the 'Attachments' tab, you will find the official factsheet for this fine wine. We will automatically send this to you upon ordering this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you come to collect the wine, you will often receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you select 'Pick up' on the checkout page. We are located in Dordrecht, almost next to the A16, with ample parking. Click here for our address.