CHATEAU COS LABORY

Chateau Cos Labory is a winery in the Saint-Estèphe appellation of the Bordeaux region of France. The wine produced here was classified as one of eighteen Cinquièmes Crus(Fifth Growths) in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. It is one of the smallest of the Cru Classé châteaux in Bordeaux. Bordeaux wine was being produced at Cos Labory in the late 1700s. Today it is owned by Madame Cécile Audoy and managed by her son Bernard. 

Vineyards, Terroir, and 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. The main part of the 18-hectare vineyard is a long, thin strip, located just to the west of Cos d'Estournel, with the rest being near Lafon Rochet.

The average age of the vines in the vineyard is 25 years. The terroir is gravel and limestone soil with patches of clay typical of the St. Estephe appellation.

The wine is typically a blend of one third each of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with sometimes a small proportion of Petit Vedot. The grapes are fermented in enamel-lined concrete tanks and the wine is aged in small bariques (30-50% new) for 18 months. Cos Labory is never the most full-bodied of St-Estèphes, possibly due to the relatively high proportion of Cabernet Franc in the blend. However, the last 10 years have seen a move towards a more substantial style and the wines now are some of the best (and most sensibly priced) in St-Estèphe today.