2023 Chateau Cos DEstournel [EP2023]

ETA: June'2026

Vintage: 2023

Region: St Estephe

Country: France

Winemaker Notes

A contemporary classic in the making, the 2023 Cos d'Estournel has turned out beautifully, reflecting a lighter touch with extraction that has delivered more sensuality and harmony without the loss of any of the estate's signature power and authority. Wafting from the glass with deep aromas of cassis, wild berries, orange zest and exotic spices, framed by well-integrated new wood, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a concentrated core of fruit, beautifully suave tannins and a cool, seamless profile. It's a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that attained 12.9% alcohol and is being matured in 50% new oak.

About Winery

Cos d’Estournel was founded in 1811 by Louis Gaspard d’Estournel, who also owned Chateau Pomys (that sits next to Chateau Lafite Rothschild.) The owner was one of the first Bordeaux wine producers to make, bottle, and sell his own wine. He also had an unusual wine distribution system. Instead of selling his wines through the traditional negociant system in France, he exported them.  This way, the wine became quite popular in many different countries, but most of it was shipped to India. After Louis died in 1852, the Chateau was sold to Charles Cecil Martyns, who started selling the wine through the conventional negociant system.

Three years later, the wine was classified as Second Growth. For a brief period thereafter, the estate came under the ownership of the Charmolue family, who was also in charge of the nearby Chateau Montrose. In 1917, the estate became a property of Fernand Ginestet. Ginestet’s grandchildren took charge of the estate in the following decades. In 1995, Cos d’Estournel wines were sold in China. Bruno Prats managed the estate until 1998, when he sold it to the Merlaut family. In 2000, the estate was bought by its current owner Michel Reybier. He renovated the wine cellars and conducted a thorough study of the vineyard soils. This helped him and his winemaker Dominique Arangoits understand the full potential of the vineyards and improve the winemaking techniques at the Chateau.

In 2009, Reybier also acquired vineyard holdings in Champagne, France, and Hungary. Together with Cos d’Estournel, these holdings form Domaines Reybier. In 2012, the estate’s manager Jean-Guillaume Prats was replaced by Aymeric de Gironde.

Price:

Per unit $199.99; Buy 3 or More $599.99; Buy 6 or More $1199.99