VIP Chateau Cos d'Estournel Private Wine Tour from Bordeaux
About this activity
Experience a private wine tour from Bordeaux to Château Cos d'Estournel in the Saint Estèphe wine region. Enjoy expert guidance, a walk in the vineyards, exclusive 6-wine tasting, and time for lunch in the region.
Highlights
- Travel in comfort from Bordeaux to Saint-Estèphe
- VIP tour of famed Château Cos d'Estournel estate
- Taste 6 exclusive red and white vintages
- See the estate's iconic pagodas and monumental gate
- Free time for leisurely lunch in wine country
Full description
Step into the enchanting world of Bordeaux’s Médoc on a private wine adventure to the legendary Château Cos d'Estournel. Arrive in style with your personal driver, and be welcomed at the Second Classified Growth estate, renowned for its iconic pagodas and mix of exotic Indian and traditional French flair. Wander the vines (weather permitting), discover the awe-inspiring gravity-flow cellar, and learn the secrets behind world-class winemaking from passionate experts. The highlight awaits: an exclusive vertical tasting of six prestigious wines, including both revered reds and refined whites from the estate’s historic cellars. Savor every sip in a tranquil, luxurious setting.
After your visit, take free time to enjoy lunch at your chosen pace in Saint-Estèphe—perhaps at the picturesque La Maison d’Estournel. This unforgettable day is designed for those who crave sophistication and the ultimate Bordeaux wine experience.
Private Château Cos d'Estournel Wine Tour from Bordeaux: Vineyard Walk, Cellar Visit and 6-Wine Tasting
Experience one of Bordeaux's most spectacular wine estates on a private half-day tour to Château Cos d'Estournel, a legendary Second Growth 1855 Grand Cru Classé in the Saint-Estèphe appellation. Travel in comfort with your private driver-guide from Bordeaux and discover the château's exotic pagoda architecture, gravity-flow cellar, and exceptional wines. Your visit includes a vineyard walk, winery tour, and exclusive tasting of 6 wines — including multiple vintages of the renowned grand vin and the rare white Cos d'Estournel.
Château Cos d'Estournel — Saint-Estèphe's Iconic Estate
Château Cos d'Estournel holds a distinguished place in Bordeaux wine history as one of the first estates to bottle, label, and sell its own wines under the château name, quickly earning stellar reputation and Second Growth classification in 1855. The estate's founder, Louis Gaspard d'Estournel, was fascinated by India where his wines were successfully exported, and this passion inspired the château's striking architecture: iconic Oriental pagodas and a monumental carved wooden gate blending exotic Asian influences with local Médoc limestone, creating one of Bordeaux's most photographed and recognizable wine estates.
Your private visit begins with a walk through the vineyards (weather permitting), where expert guides explain the savoir-faire and viticultural expertise behind Cos d'Estournel's exceptional terroir. Discover how the gravelly Saint-Estèphe soils, precise canopy management, and sustainable vineyard practices contribute to producing grapes of remarkable concentration and quality. Continue inside the stunning gravity-flow cellar — an architectural and functional masterpiece where wine moves naturally between levels using gravity rather than pumps, preserving grape and wine integrity while showcasing modern winemaking innovation housed within historic pagoda-topped buildings.
Exclusive 6-Wine Tasting Experience
After the comprehensive winery tour, settle in for an exclusive guided tasting of 6 wines from the estate, offering rare insight into Cos d'Estournel's style and evolution across vintages. Begin with Pagodes de Cos, the estate's second wine crafted from younger vines but vinified and aged with the same meticulous care as the grand vin, offering an elegant, full-bodied, aromatic profile that represents exceptional value and approachability.
Then savor 4 different vintages of Château Cos d'Estournel red, the estate's flagship wine composed primarily of Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This powerful yet refined wine showcases Saint-Estèphe's characteristic structure, firm tannins, and remarkable aging potential, with layers of blackcurrant, cedar, spice, and graphite that develop magnificently over decades. The vertical tasting across multiple vintages reveals how weather conditions, terroir expression, and barrel aging influence each year's unique personality.
Conclude with a vintage of Cos d'Estournel white, a rare and exceptional white Bordeaux crafted from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon that exhibits rich, exotic fruit character — white peach, citrus, tropical notes — balanced by vibrant acidity and subtle oak integration. This is one of the Médoc's finest white wines, produced in limited quantities and rarely available for tasting.
Optional Lunch at La Maison d'Estournel
After your visit and tasting, enjoy free time for lunch in Saint-Estèphe village or nearby. Upon request, we can reserve a table for you at La Maison d'Estournel, the estate's charming country-house hotel and restaurant set in the heart of the vineyards. Savor refined, seasonal cuisine showcasing the best produce of southwest France, paired perfectly with Cos d'Estournel wines in an elegant setting. Lunch is not included in the tour price and is payable directly at the restaurant, subject to availability. Your private driver returns you to Bordeaux after your Saint-Estèphe experience.
Included / Excluded
- Private round-trip transportation from Bordeaux
- Exclusive guided tour of Château Cos d'Estournel
- Vertical tasting of 6 estate wines
- Lunch at La Maison d’Estournel
- Persoanl travel insurance and expenses
- Gratuities for the driver/guide
Itinerary
Bordeaux departure
Meet your guide and make your way to the Saint Estèphe wine region of Bordeaux
Château Cos d'Estournel
Reach Château Cos d'Estournel, visit and commented wine tasting
Meeting point
Start Location
Bordeaux, France
Important information
Know before you book
- Minimum 2 adult passengers required for tour to operate
- Hotel pickup and drop-off included from Bordeaux and within 30 km (18 miles)
- Advance booking recommended due to limited availability
- Château Cos d'Estournel vineyard walk, cellar tour, and tasting included
- Tour conducted in English; other languages available on request
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable shoes for vineyard walks
- Bring a camera to capture the stunning estate architecture
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for vineyard walk and cellar visit
- Minimum drinking age is 18 years old in France
- Tasting includes 6 wines; substantial experience for wine enthusiasts
Cancellation policy
Up to 72 hours before the beginning of the activity: full refund Less than 72 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: no refund
Reviews
We had a very fun day with Matt to Mont Saint-Mitchel. Matt is an excellent tour guide & he cared for his clients very much. He's an on time person. We learned a lot about the history of Saint-Mitchel via Matt. He made sure we have enough time browsing this beautiful UNESCO. We definitely recommend friends & family this tour. Thank you Matt
Pascal was, above all, a smiling whirlwind of energy from the very start — bursting with knowledge, passion, and just the right amount of dramatic flair. He painted the horror of the Omaha Beach invasion so vividly that we could practically hear the chaos, then marched us through the bunkers at Pointe du Hoc like we were on a mission ourselves. And before we even caught our breath, he had already catapulted us back to Bayeux at invasion speed. A legend in tour‑guide form. Thanks from Croatian Team😉
Our Normandy D-Day tour was well worth it and we so enjoyed our tour guide Matt. He made the tour engaging, entertaining and informative. The tour was just the right size and a half day was perfect for us. It would have been much harder to get around to the sites and understand each without the information that Matt was constantly sharing. There was hardly a time that Matt was not telling us what/how/when of what we were looking at. Thanks Matt!
Frequently asked questions
FAQs
Additional information
This private Château Cos d'Estournel tour is perfect for serious wine collectors and Bordeaux enthusiasts wanting to visit one of the Médoc's most prestigious and architecturally stunning Second Growth estates. It appeals to wine lovers interested in vertical tastings comparing multiple vintages to understand aging and vintage variation, connoisseurs seeking rare access to white Cos d'Estournel alongside the legendary red grand vin, and photography enthusiasts drawn to the château's iconic Oriental pagoda architecture.
Ideal for travelers fascinated by wine history and the 1855 classification, those appreciating innovative gravity-flow cellar design, and luxury travelers valuing exclusive experiences at elite estates. The comprehensive 6-wine tasting offers exceptional depth for understanding Saint-Estèphe terroir and Cos d'Estournel's powerful yet refined Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant style built for decades of aging.
In regards to the protection of the environment, we will no longer provide plastic bottles of water during our tours. You are kindly advised to bring your own. Water and refills are available at the wineries, museums and attractions visited.
Please note: In France, snacks are usually not provided during wine tastings to preserve the purity of the wine's flavor. We recommend having a good breakfast or lunch beforehand.