The energy of the Northern Médoc

Taking a step aside.

G d’Estournel was born of a clear decision: to explore, in order to remain faithful to the spirit of Cos d’Estournel and its founder, Louis-Gaspard. In the early 2000s, Michel Reybier chose to look beyond Saint-Estèphe and invest in the northern Médoc. A more open, more exposed, less charted area than the rest of the Médoc. The goal was not to create a satellite wine of Cos d’Estournel, but a wine in its own right, with its own interpretation of the Médoc and its own energy.
G d’Estournel is a gateway into the Cos universe, but through different codes: more immediate, without ever renouncing standards of excellence. It took three years to identify the original plots with strong qualitative potential, leading to the birth of the first vintage in 2003, initially named Goulée by Cos Estournel.

Terroir shapes the style.

The Goulée vineyard gives G d’Estournel its signature. Located at the extreme northern tip of the Médoc, facing the Gironde estuary, it benefits from a singular environment. Here, the estuary opens wide, allowing iodised winds, light and freshness to flow in. A former island, the terroir is made up of gravel terraces and clay-limestone slopes that the Cos d’Estournel teams have learned to understand over time.
As early as 2003, an in-depth soil study laid the foundations for a major replanting programme. Cabernet Sauvignon thrives on the gravel soils, where it is replanted at high density. Respect for the existing heritage remains essential, and the oldest vines are preserved, bringing the vineyard’s average age to 35 years.

Here, the north-eastern exposure tempers climatic extremes. Proximity to water naturally regulates temperatures. The vines, around thirty-five years old, root deeply and faithfully express this landscape of marshes, winds and open horizons. The wine bears its mark: freshness, tension, salinity.

A wine that goes straight to pleasure.

Predominantly composed of Merlot and complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon, G d’Estournel favours balance and energy. The fruit is precise, the palate supple, supported by natural freshness and delicate spicy notes. It is a wine that is immediately understandable, a table wine in the noblest sense: for simple meals, contemporary and spontaneous cuisine, shared moments.
Accessible, yes. But never simplistic. G d’Estournel embraces a clear promise: to give pleasure, without detours, and to make you want to come back to it.

Four benchmark vintages

2019 – The 2019 vintage shows an energetic balance between freshness and richness, vigour and restraint. Notes of blackcurrant, violet and aromatic herbs unfold, with a peppery backbone and silky texture.

2020 – Combining the aromatic profile and balance of a cool vintage with the tannin quality and acidity of a warm one. Driven by the softness of Merlot, G d’Estournel 2020 is above all indulgent, marked by iodised notes and a peppery touch that gives it great energy.

2021 – Notes of rosemary, liquorice and sour cherry unfold delicately in an expression closer to infusion in its finesse. On the palate, the velvety yet vibrant texture supports the characteristic roundness of G d’Estournel, enhanced by hazelnut notes, making it a wine of pure indulgence.

2022 – Offering notes of blackcurrant and blueberry, the freshness of peppermint and the roundness of gingerbread. Both velvety and energetic, the 2022 vintage is a true pleasure, made to be shared.

Taking a step aside, once again.

More than mere distributors, the partners who offer the wine in their markets are committed ambassadors of the profile and potential of G d’Estournel.

THAILAND – Guillaume Celante – The Wine Merchant

The Wine Merchant is a fine wine importer and distributor based in Bangkok, Thailand. We work primarily with fine dining restaurants, luxury hotels and the country’s best wine bars. We also benefit from an exceptional network of private clients and passionate collectors, supported by our Virtual Wine Cellar app and five retail stores located in Bangkok and Phuket.

We have worked with Cos d’Estournel for many years and are proud to have been the first exclusive partner for G d’Estournel, laying the foundations for a model that Cos is now deploying in other markets.

We have been ambassadors of G d’Estournel from the very beginning. It is a wine that delivers the “Cos signature” in a modern and accessible way. It offers freshness, precision and elegance, with a pricing positioning particularly suited to Thailand and to uses different from those of Cos itself—both on restaurant wine lists and for private clients seeking a high-quality Médoc to enjoy regularly. A “younger, more accessible Cos” that can be appreciated earlier and in a more relaxed way: a serious wine, yet one that can be opened with pleasure for everyday enjoyment.

G d’Estournel strongly appeals to young professionals and wine lovers who wish to drink a “true Bordeaux” without immediately entering the world of classified growths. It also attracts experienced collectors who enjoy having a reliable, high-quality Bordeaux red to open during the week or serve at informal dinners.

PAYS-BAS  – Judith Poot – Poot Agenturen

Poot Agenturen is an importer and agent. We work with around 80 producers, with expertise in Bordeaux and Barolo wines.

We have been working with G d’Estournel for several years now, when the wine was still called Goulée by Estournel. It benefits from the clear association with Cos d’Estournel, a name recognised by customers. G d’Estournel offers a modern approach to Bordeaux: it is an entry point into the world of a great growth and an ideal way to reach today’s consumer. The bottle and label express this identity very well, embodying a modern Bordeaux style while retaining classical roots.

Moreover, G d’Estournel is both a wine for immediate pleasure, enjoyable as soon as it is released, and a wine with ageing potential over several years. Each vintage has its own identity: 2019, for example, is currently very approachable, while 2020 offers more structure while remaining elegant.

In our market, G d’Estournel is aimed at knowledgeable consumers—more informed wine lovers capable of understanding classic styles while appreciating modernity.

FRANCE, ALPS – David Gaultier – Vin sur Vin

Vin sur Vin is a commercial agency representing around 60 estates and Maisons, including Cos d’Estournel, across the two Savoie regions. We are based in Chamonix, where we also operate a wine shop (Vin sur Vin), a wine bar (O’ Garde-Manger), and two restaurants, Malabar Princess and Jeanie, allowing us to stay in direct contact with consumers.

G d’Estournel fits perfectly within the price/pleasure segment: there is substance, it is delicious, and it is backed by a Château that is consistently very well perceived by clients. It brings renewed offerings to the restaurant sector, synonymous with freshness and modernity, with excellent value for money. And of course, it serves as an introduction to the great wines of Cos d’Estournel.

We ourselves have offered G d’Estournel by the glass in our establishments, with great success, at a time when we are seeing renewed consumer interest in quality Bordeaux wines.