For decades, the same team of grape-pickers has returned to Cos d’Estournel year after year, leaving their village in southern Spain at harvest time every autumn.
It is not unusual for a child to take his first steps with his father and grandfather—and then one day see his own son work—among the vines of Cos d’Estournel. From one generation to another, families have long been passing down their intimate knowledge of, their passion for and their desire to protect and preserve the vineyard.
The loyalty and expertise of the men and women of Cos d’Estournel are inestimable. The bulk of the work is manual, and the hands that carry it out are guided by the experience of previous generations. Each member of the team is essential to the pursuit of excellence that defines the estate’s philosophy.
Michel Sementery, Assistant to the Vineyards Manager Guillaume Sementery, Vine Grower
Pride and humility
“I make wine because it evokes the eternal; it makes us want to grow older, to taste a wine and see how it evolves over time. My ideal wine is one that moves you, a wine that has a certain freshness but is also rich and generous. Every harvest brings its own satisfactions: my favorite vintages are the 2010 and the 2005. In 2010, we were equipped with the best techniques, and in 2005, the grapes were simply the most outstanding I have ever seen.”
