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Cos d’Estournel owner acquires neighbouring château
Michel Reybier, the millionaire owner of St Estèphe’s Château Cos d’Estournel, has acquired neighbouring winery Château Cos Labory for an undisclosed sum.
Reybier, a successful hotelier, bought the fifth-growth estate from the Audoy family, Wine Spectator reported, who have owned it since the 1930s. It comprises 18 hectares, the main part being a long, thin strip, located to the west of Cos d’Estournel, with the remainder near Lafon Rochet, planted with 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. It produce around 6,500 cases a year.
The move reunites the properties that were once owned by Louis Gaspard d’Estournel, the founder of Cos d’Estournel for just over a decade in the mid 19th century. Before that Cos Labory, originally known as Cos Gaston, was owned by Pierre Gaston, changing its name when it was inherited by Gaston’s granddaughter, who married into the Labory family. It was acquired by Cos d’Estournel in 1847, but following his sale of the business in 1852, the new owner sold off Cos Labory only a few years later.
The acquisition is not Reybier’s first foray into the appellation after acquiring Cos d’Estournel in 2000. In 2017, he bought Château Pomeys, which was the home of Cos d’Estournel’s original founder, which he converted into a boutique restaurant and hotel called Maison d’Estournel.
However, he confirmed that the new acquisition would remain independent, applauding the Audoy family for their “qualitative approach and passion” to the wines of Cos Labory.
“This is what has guided my decision to perpetuate the estate’s independence while pursuing the level of excellence made possible by this great terroir of St Estèphe,” he said. “The first step will be in the vineyard, where we will discover more in depth the terroir of Cos Labory and its specificities in order to extract the best potential.”
Domaines Reybier comprises five vineyards, including Cos d’Estournel, Hétszolo Estate in Hungary, which was added in 2009, a Champagne cuvée which was rolled out in 2013, and estates in Provence including La Mascaronne (part of a partnership with retired basketball star Tony Parker) and Lauzade.
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