Saint-Estèphe Château Cos d'Estournel 75 cl

Château Cos d'Estournel is a 2nd Grand Cru Classé of the Saint-Estèphe appellation, renowned for its exceptional terroir, its Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend, and its refined production of red wines in 75cl bottles.

Estate and Terroir

The estate covers approximately 100 hectares of vineyards located on a hill of gravel mixed with limestone clay, offering a complex and rich terroir. The average age of the vines is around 45 to 55 years according to sources, with a high planting density of around 9,000 vines per hectare. The temperate maritime climate, with the proximity of the Gironde estuary, ensures optimal ripening of the grapes.

Blend and Grape Varieties

The wine is traditionally made with:
Cabernet Sauvignon: 60 to 74 %
Merlot: 30 to 38 %
Cabernet Franc: around 1 to 2 %
Petit Verdot: around 0.5 to 2 %
Only vines over 20 years old are used for the Grand Vin. Older merlots, sometimes a century old, help maintain the estate's signature.

Vinification and Aging

The harvest is entirely manual. Since 2008, the estate has had a modern gravity-fed winery designed to handle the grapes with the utmost care, without pumping, ensuring uniform extraction. The wine is aged in new barriques at a level of 60 to 80 %, for around 18 months, which gives the wine power, finesse, and complexity.

Description and Tasting

Château Cos d’Estournel presents a purple color, often deep, with complex aromas of black fruits (blackcurrant, blackberry), spices, licorice, and sometimes floral and mineral notes. On the palate, this wine is powerful and structured with silky tannins, offering a beautiful length and an elegant, sometimes spicy finish. The wine ages well, with optimal maturity generally reached between 10 and 30 years after harvest.

Serving Suggestions

Ideal serving temperature: 16-18°C
Decant about an hour before tasting to enhance the aromatic expression
Recommended food pairings: red meat (beef fillet, roast lamb), game (roe deer, venison), dishes in sauce (coq au vin), and aged cheeses (Comté, truffle Brie)