Château Clos d'Estournel

In 1791, on the death of his father, Louis Joseph Gaspard Lacoste Maniban, Marquis d'Estournel inherited 29 years of family property located in the southern part of Saint-Estèphe, in the locality Cos original word Gascon meaning "hill of stones." man of passion, stimulated by the immediate vicinity of the prestigious Château Lafite, he decided in 1811 to make wine to share the product of his vines. There will now devote his life, his health and fortune.

From 1821 to 1847 he buys many neighboring plots allowing it to significantly expand Cos and giving it roughly the size of today. It is thus in 1852 owner of 3 wines: Cos d'Estournel, Cos Labory - adjoining castle some of the best plots had been transferred to Cos d'Estournel - and Pomys. From the 1830s, he built one of the most extraordinary wine cellars of the Medoc, Chinese pagodas and topped with a carved door specially came from India. The Marquis was indeed a great connoisseur of the East with which it traded.

He specifically found that the benefit could draw his precious bottles go a maritime return from India, then known bottles under the name "Return of the Indies."exceptional terroir, passion, financial efforts, hard work enable rapid progress of thought that will be ranked 2nd Grand Cru in 1855, two years after the death of Louis who, in debt and sick, had to sell its properties in London banker Martyns in 1852. it entrusts the management of the field to Jerome Chiapella, owner of La Mission Haut-Brion, which also contributes greatly to the progress of the property.
It changed hands three times before being acquired in 1917 by Fernand Ginestet, famous Bordeaux wine merchant. His grand-son Bruno Prats and his grand-son Jean-Guillaume Prats will manage the area, even after the change of ownership, ensuring continuity of expertise and resources: Merlaut Family (Taillan trading group) 1998 after its acquisition of Ginestet, and Michel Reybier, passionate industry, from 2000.Thanks to the passion of its owners, Cos d'Estournel, become over the years first property of Saint-Estèphe, continues to enjoy considerable investments to improve the quality. Thus the new and very impressive wine cellar realized in the late 2000s is unique in the world entirely by gravity, using tanks, elevators, replacing pumps, it has 72 tapered and insulated stainless steel tanks capacity ranging from 19-115 hl allowing rigorous vinification and the total respect of the product.

The 91ha vineyard extends south of Saint-Estèphe on deep gravel soils over limestone subsoil, both on the plate and on the slopes of the hill of Cos. The vines are Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), mainly on serious lean summit and southern slopes, and Merlot (40%) that thrives on the slopes and coasts. The average age of the vines maintained at 35 and the high planting density (8,000 to 10,000 plants / ha) contribute to controlling yields and high quality grapes. Each grower has full responsibility for 45,000 feet he assumes essentially manually, all care.

The grass cover is used on almost all the vineyards.The estate produces besides the grand vin, a second wine "The Pagodas of Cos" and since the 2005 vintage and in very small quantities, a white wine "Cos d'Estournel Blanc" whose vineyards are located at the northern tip of Medoc.

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