A Worthy Cos

Chateau Cos d’Estournel’s second wine, Pagodes de Cos, easily rivals the estate’s grand vin in the pleasure it affords.

- Kenny Leong

Cos d’Estournel is a fascinating estate. Its facade and furnishings reference the exotic orient through elephants, ornamental figures and pagodas – inspired by founder Louis Gaspard d’Estournel’s travels in the 1800s through India and Macau. Standing in sharp contrast is the state-of-the-art winery, which is arguably one of the most innovative in all of SaintEstephe. Conceived by the estate’s current owner Michel Reybier, Jean-Guillaume Prats (then manager of the estate), and the technical team, the winemaking facilities are based on a gravity-fed system, such that the grapes, juice and resulting wine are all treated in the gentlest manner possible.

It is from the eclectic facade that the estate’s second wine, Pagodes de Cos, gets its name. First produced in 1994, it is now regarded as among the finest second wines that share the Saint-Estephe appellation.