Château Cos d'Estournel 2021 / 12.5% / 1.5 L

Château Cos d’Estournel is one of the most recognizable estates in Bordeaux—visible from afar thanks to its exotic architecture featuring pagodas and elephants, a testament to Louis-Gaspard d’Estournel’s fascination with India.It was he who, in the 19th century, founded the vineyard, earning the nickname “the Maharaja of Saint-Estèphe”.His visionary nature and courage in breaking into new markets quickly made Cos wines famous around the world.Today, the estate belongs to Michel Reybier, who modernized it by introducing one of the first gravity-fed wineries in Bordeaux.The vineyards stretch across a distinctive gravel hill, which gives the area its name, “Cos” (meaning “hill of stones”), and the proximity of the Gironde estuary creates a unique microclimate that is ideal for ripening the fruit.

Although Cos d’Estournel is famous for its grand cru red wines, an exceptional white wine has also been produced here since 2005.Cos d’Estournel Blanc is produced from grapes grown on specially selected plots in the northern Médoc, where the cooler climate and the breeze from the Gironde provide ideal conditions for white grape varieties.This venture was risky, since white wines are a rarity in Saint-Estèphe, but from the very first vintages, it proved that the terroir has the potential to produce wines full of energy, minerality, and elegance.

The 2021 vintage is a blend of 71% Sauvignon Blanc and 29% Sémillon.Fermentation and aging took place in French oak barrels, with only about 8% new barrels used, in order to highlight the freshness and natural expression of the fruit.Although the producer does not disclose the exact aging period, previous vintages spent about nine months on the lees, which suggests that the 2021 vintage followed a similar cycle.

Appearance: pale straw-colored with green highlights, clear, shiny.

Aroma: juicy peach and pear, fresh citrus with dominant notes of bergamot and lemon, hints of rose, a mineral flint accent, and a delicate buttery-toasty note from aging.

Taste: tight and elegant, with lively, fine-grained acidity, a chalky texture, and a long finish full of citrus freshness and a salty undertone.

Food pairings: an excellent accompaniment to seafood (oysters, scallops, lobster), fish with delicate flesh (zander, turbot), lemon and pea risotto, fresh asparagus with hollandaise sauce, or light aged cheeses such as Comté and Ossau-Iraty.