Intimately persuaded of the potential of his vines, Louis Gaspard d’Estournel sought constantly to expand, and would gradually acquire the prime plots on the hill of Cos.
Today the vineyard occupies 91 hectares. Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for two-thirds of this precious mosaic of 61 plots, with a lesser proportion of the land dedicated to Merlot and a small proportion to Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
Nestled among the vine plants of the estate—45 years old on average—are certain very precious specimens, guardians of the vineyard’s heritage. Some of the oldest vine plants date back to the early 20th century. They continue to thrive, finding nourishment in the deepest layers of the land. Their grapes bring depth and structure to the wines of Cos d’Estournel, a testament to the incomparable complexity of the vineyard’s soil.
The grapes from these mature plants are blended with the fruit of their younger counterparts to produce the Grand Vin of Cos d’Estournel. The average age of vine plants whose grapes are used in the estate’s first wine is 55 years old.