The winery is located in the commune of Saint-Estèphe or area of the same name in the Médoc (Bordeaux). It is separated from the famous Château Lafite-Rothschild only by a stream. Part of the vineyards were detached in 1789 in connection with the French Revolution, thus founding Château Cos Labory. The year of foundation of Château Cos d'Estournel is considered to be 1811, when the horse and wine merchant Louis-Gaspard d'Estournel (1753-1844) acquired the first vineyards. He had recognised the excellent quality of the extremely barren pebble soils (Cos) at an early stage. The part of the name "Cos" (Caux) is derived from "Colline de cailloux" (gravelly hill). Louis-Gaspard d'Estournel exported his wine as far as India and several Arab countries. From there he imported noble horses, which were bred in the pastures around the vineyards. He built a huge wine cellar in partly Asian style, including the pagoda-like curved roofs and the famous door from the harem of the Sultan of Zanzibar.
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Sigi Hiss
freier Autor und Weinberater (Fine, Vinum u.a.), Bad Krozingen