Chateau Cos d'Estournel

Since Michel Reybier acquired the estate in 2000, brand and image have been an integral part of the development of Cos d’Estournel. From the aforementioned renovation work to the stylised labelling and subsequent release of the third wine, Goulée – a special project between Reybier and Prats – it has been a conscious strategy to present Cos as not only the leading St-Estèphe wine but to create a brand that can engage with the emerging markets.

In November 2011, Cos d’Estournel was included in Robert Parker’s ‘magical 20’ tasting in Hong Kong, which took place to highlight 20 wines of high quality outside the big names of Bordeaux. This further underlined the estate’s reputation and enhanced its image in the Far East. This has been developed in recent years with strategies like the release of ‘COS100’. A special edition, limited production release which has certainly helped grow the brand across Asia and India in particular through using it as a marketing tool and also charitable events.

As mentioned earlier, through the historical links to India as well as the strong Orient imagery running through the brand, it can be argued that ‘Cos’ is well placed to continue to take advantage of the burgeoning interest in fine wine from growth Asian markets and specifically India where fine wine imports are growing year-on-year.

Cos d’Estournel has earned significant praise for its wines over the last ten years and has enjoyed great success under the joint stewardship of Michel Reybier. The Chateau certainly takes its place as one of the leading super-second’s with the 14, 15, 16, and 17 vintages averaging 95.59 points by Global Wine Score (as of Oct 18). This is testament to the continued efforts to produce first-growth quality wine on a consistent basis. The wines have seen gushing tasting notes from a vaiety of high-profile critics.

The Chateau is named after 19th Century owner Louis Gaspard d’Estournel, whose travels in the Orient influenced the design of the chateau and cellars, earning him the nickname ‘maharajah of St Estèphe’. During these years, the majority of Cos d’Estournel was exported to equally exotic locations with India being one of the main recipients. The ‘Indian elephant’ is still synonymous with Cos, a statue of which greets you on your approach to the property and is also symbolised within the chateaux’s branding. With India’s wine consumption steadily increasing, it wouldn’t be surprising if Cos d’Estournel lead the way in this region with its obvious connections to Southern Asia.

Michel Reybier, who has been owner since 2000, has remained true to the avant-garde style of Louis Gaspard and this is shown in the immaculate condition of the Chateau itself, cellars and vat rooms- with wonderfully modern stainless steel and glass flourishes. Thankfully the quality of the wine has matched the size of investments that have been made over the last 15 years and is seemingly already bearing dividends. Since 2000, Reybier, alongside proprietor Jean-Guillaume Prats, have raised the quality of this St. Estèphe estate and were vindicated by the estate’s first 100 point score from Robert Parker Jr for the 2009 vintage, then the 2016 and 2017 vintages receiving 98-100 point and 97-100 point scores respectively at En Primeur.