Wines from St. Estephe

The 1,200-hectare Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC or AC) is the northernmost of the renowned communes on the Left Bank. The characteristic style of St. Estèphe wines is cooler and fresher than that of its neighbors, unless the blends contain a higher proportion of Merlot. This is because gravel over a clay subsoil retains less heat and drains water more slowly, leading to a delayed ripening process—an advantage in dry years.

The best Châteaux produce wines with the potential to age for decades. We are particularly passionate about the wines from Château Montrose and Cos d’Estournel—both Deuxième Grand Cru estates. A small stream is all that separates the vineyards of Cos d’Estournel from a very prominent neighbor in Pauillac: Château Lafite.