Saint-Estephe 2018

Producer history

The estate takes its name and modern identity from Louis-Gaspard d'Estournel, who assembled the property and named it in the early 1810s (sources give 1810 or 1811), later building its famous pagoda-topped chartreuse inspired by his trade with Asia. Burdened by debt, he sold the estate in 1852 and died the following year — just before the 1855 Classification ranked Cos d'Estournel a Deuxième Cru (Second Growth), one of only two in Saint-Estèphe alongside Montrose. Ownership passed through several families over the 19th and 20th centuries (Martyns, Errazu/Errazuriz, Hostein, Ginestet) before the Prats family took control in 1970 and built its modern reputation; Michel Reybier has owned the estate since 2000.

Signature pairings

• Slow-roasted duck breast with tamarind glaze — Duck's richness and a touch of sweet-sour tamarind complement the wine's plush Merlot component and ripe tannin without needing chili heat, which would clash with the wine's oak and structure.
• Beef massaman curry (mild, roasted spice base) (แกงมัสมั่นเนื้อ) — The dry-spiced, slow-braised character suits the wine's depth, but this is a wine best kept away from significant chili heat, which would fight its tannic backbone; a very mild preparation is the ceiling.
• Roquefort or other blue cheese — Classic Bordeaux-with-blue-cheese pairing; the cheese's salt and funk soften the wine's tannin.