Every single detail at Cos d’Estournel—in the vineyard, the gardens, the pagodas, the Chartreuse and the cellars—has its importance; each space has been designed with the same meticulousness that defines the estate’s approach to winemaking. Beyond the obvious pleasures of being on site, a visit to Cos d’Estournel forever reveals new facets of the estate’s timeless and inimitable identity.
To begin with, the estate’s iconic pagodas tower over the vineyard. Inspired by Indian architecture, they cannot but leave their mark. Then there are the elephants, the guardians of the estate. With the rustling breeze comes the gentle ringing of the small bells that hang from the towers’ hexagonal roofs. And finally, the dragons that are elegantly carved in the stone of the pagodas reveal themselves.
Myriad decorative elements in the château and the Chartreuse are masterfully integrated to create a magnificently orchestrated setting, from the Rajasthan boiseries to the style furniture pieces and antiques placed here and there. Once visitors pass through the château’s monumental carved door from Zanzibar, the mysteries continue: the edifice may be dedicated to winemaking but every corner of the place, like the small salon with its elaborate upholstery and richly hued rugs designed to evoke the unique ambiance of Indian palaces, is meant to prolong the delightful feeling of being transported to a most singular realm.
Each and every feature has its own special meaning and together they create an inimitable atmosphere, one that blends an invitation to travel with the pursuit of winemaking, a combination dear to the founder of the estate. Indeed, from the very beginning, Cos d’Estournel has mastered the art of bringing together the realities of the vineyard with the different phases of its history, to create a most singular breed of mystery where nothing is left to chance.
