Chateau Cos Labory St. Estephe, Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Learn everything about Chateau Cos Labory St. Estephe Fifth Growth with wine tasting notes, and wine with food pairings. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, information on vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other Bordeaux wine producers: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Cos Labory History, Overview

Like other Bordeaux wine chateaux in the Saint Estephe appellation, Chateau Cos Labory takes the first part of their name from the famous hill of COS. There is history at Cos Labory.

Bordeaux wine was being produced at Cos Labory in the late 1700s when the owner at the time, Pierre Gaston died. In those days, the estate was known as Cos Gaston, which took the second part of their name from the Gaston family.

His three children drew lots for the estate. It went to his son, Hyacinthe. Hyacinthe married Anne Pauty and they had an only–child, Marie–Sany. Marie–Sany later married Francois–Armand Labory and the estate was renamed Cos Gaston Labory. At that time, they were producing more wine than Cos dEstournel, their closest neighbor.

What happened next changed the makeup of two estates located in the Medoc. Chateau Cos Labory was purchased by Louis–Gaspard d’Estournel, the owner of Chateau Cos d’Estournel. Gaspard d’Estournel sold the property a few years later after he transferred many of the best vineyard parcels from Cos Labory over to Cos d’Estournel.

In 1922, Cos Labory was sold to Ambrosio and Augusto Weber for 200,000 French Francs. Through a direct descendant, Bernard Audoy, the Weber family still owns the St. Estephe property today.

In 1971, the family added to their holdings in Bordeaux when they purchased another estate in Saint Estephe, Chateau Andron Blanquet. In 1999, they modernized the estate when they added temperature-controlled, stainless steel fermentation tanks. Bernard Auody began managing the family vineyard in 1984.

In March 2023, Chateau Cos Labory was sold to the owner of Cos d’Estournel, Michel Reybier, who also purchased the neighboring estate of Chateau Andron Blanquet. This has been in discussion for a bit, as the technical director of Cos d’Estournel, also helped with blending 2022 Cos Labory. The selling price is rumored to be close to 5 Million Euros per hectare, 18 Million Euros, a record-setting price for 5th Growth Bordeaux!

Chateau Cos Labory Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 18-hectare Bordeaux vineyard of Cos Labory is planted to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. There is a small amount of Petit Verdot planted in the Left Bank vineyard as well. On average, the vines are 35 years of age. The vines are planted at a density of 8,700 vines per hectare. The terroir of Cos Labory is gravel and limestone soil with patches of clay typical of the St. Estephe appellation.

Much of their vineyard for Chateau Cos Labory is located close to the chateau, next to Chateau Cos d’Estournel, which is just across the road, only a stone’s throw away. In fact, they have parcels placed in the middle of the Cos dEstournel vineyard. They have gentle slopes rising up to 25 meters at their peak.

They also have vines placed further north, next to Chateau Lafon Rochet. Much of their clay soils are in the area of Lafon Rochet, which as you would expect, is where you find their Merlot vines. In all, their vineyard is divided into 8 main blocks of vines.

The property uses machines to deleaf and in part, to harvest. They also use leaf-burning machines, which can cause problems. The heat from the machine can damage the grape skins as they suffer from high temperatures. At Chateau Cos Labory, they do not practice green harvesting, so yields can be quite high, which cuts down on the potential quality.

Chateau Cos Labory Wine Making

The wine is vinified in large, 150-hectoliter, stainless steel vats. Chateau Cos Labory is aged in about 40% new oak barrels. Interestingly, Chateau Cos Labory is one of the few Bordeaux chateaux to age their wine in American oak. The wine of Chateau Cos Labory is actually aged in a combination of French oak and American oak barrels.

On average, Cos Labory produces close to 8,000 cases of Bordeaux wine per vintage. There is a second wine, Le Charme de Cos Labory.

The best vintages of Chateau Cos Labory are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2010, 2009, 2005, 2003 and 2000. It should be noted that starting in 2016, Cos Labory stepped up its game, making the best wines in the history of the estate in 2019 and 2020.

With a terroir located less than a stone’s throw from Chateau Cos d’Estournel, they could be making much better wine if Chateau Cos Labory was willing to use a more labor-intensive approach in their vineyard management.

When to Drink Chateau Cos Labory, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Cos Labory can be enjoyed early. However, the wine is often better with at least a few years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage.

Chateau Cos Labory is usually best enjoyed in the first 10-18 years of life. Young vintages can be decanted for 1-2 hours. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Serving Chateau Cos Labory with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Cos Labory is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Chateau Cos Labory is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Cos Labory is also good when served with Asian dishes, and hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, pasta, and cheese.

www.cos-labory.com