Cos d'Estournel

The Chateau Cos d'Estournel is a vineyard of 67 hectares, located in Saint-Estephe in the Gironde. Cos d'Estournel is an AOC in the Medoc which is part of the Saint-Estephe appellation and classed a Second Growth Grand Cru in the classification of 1855. Cos Gascon means hill of stones. Cos d'Estournel is situated on a mound of clay mixed with limestone. The excess of stone, specific to Cos, therefore forces the vines to plunge deeper to draw its nees from the soil. Lack of water makes great wines and the wines of Cos benefit very well. The vines are 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and a small percentage of Cabernet Franc. The vineyards spread over thirty plots that average 35 years old. They are densely planted at 9000 vines / ha. Only vines more than twenty years old will be used for the top wine. Harvesting is done manually. The assembly of Cos varies annually. Full maturity of Cos wines is only achieved after 10-30 years, with exceptional longevity for the best years. A neighbor of Château Lafite Rothschild, Cos is a great wine in the classic tradition of the most prestigious Bordeaux of the Medoc. The winery produces 200 000-380 000 bottles per year... Cos produces a second wine called Les Pagodes de Cos, from vines aged less than twenty years. Best vintages are 2003, 2000, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1990, 1986, 1985, 1982, 1961, 1959, 1953.