Throughout his lifetime Louis Gaspard d’Estournel remained closely involved in the management of Cos d’Estournel. He fought endlessly to promote his estate, even if it meant having to sell it to finance his debts before acquiring it once again.
Driven and tenacious, he would acquire many plots of wines, some of which were among the choicest of the region, to achieve his lifelong goal of making Cos d’Estournel a first-tier estate and producing one of the world’s most outstanding wines.
Louis Gaspard d’Estournel would live to see his wine designated a Deuxième Grand Cru du Médoc by the negociants of Bordeaux but sadly enough, he passed away two years before the 1855 Bordeaux Classification officially recognized Cos d’Estournel as a Second Growth Estate.
The men and women of Cos d’Estournel are at the heart of the winemaking process. True artisans of the vine, they use the most highly advanced equipment to pursue the purest traditions of winegrowing and winemaking. They have the intimate knowledge of the vineyard, patiently honed expertise and long-standing commitment needed to make the best choices. Every detail counts when seeking to fully reveal the potential of such a magnificent terroir while also considering its overall ecosystem.
Each vine-grower on the estate is entrusted with the same ten plots, or forty thousand vine plants, year after year. He or she follows them closely from one season to the next and is entirely responsible for their care. Each vine is treated with the utmost respect, as is the rich, diverse environment surrounding the vineyard, with its forests, hedges, pastures and stream, all of which must be carefully tended to.
