Livestream Recap: "Maharajah" Vibes & The Best White in Bordeaux 🍷
A rare 1,000-case allocation, the secret to "racy" acidity in a heatwave, and why Saint-Estèphe is hiding a world-class white wine.
Yesterday’s Wine Wednesday felt like a traveling circus. Dave joined us from Barcelona (just before his flight to New York) while I prepared for an ungodly early flight to Bordeaux for En Primeur. Meanwhile, Rodolfo is off in the wilds of Argentina, hopefully enjoying big steaks and Malbec.
If you missed the livestream, here is the recap of the legendary estate we explored and the rare white wine dropping for members later today 👀.
The Icon: Château Cos d’Estournel
You might know Cos d’Estournel for its majestic pagodas and carved wooden doors, a legacy of the “Maharajah of Saint-Estèphe,” Louis-Gaspard d’Estournel. While the estate is a Left Bank titan famous for its reds, they produce what is arguably the best dry white wine in all of Bordeaux.
The Terroir: Located in Saint-Estèphe, Cos d’Estournel neighbors Chateau Lafite, separated only by a small stream.
The Rarity: They produce fewer than 1,000 cases of the Grand Vin Blanc annually, making it an incredibly difficult allocation to secure.
The Architecture: The estate is famous for its Eastern-inspired design, featuring stone elephants and pagodas that stand out against the classic French skyline.
The Science: 2022 “Posture” & Precision
The 2022 vintage was defined by a brutal, hot summer, but the wine remains incredibly fresh. We went deep into the “nerdy” details of how they pulled it off.
The Rain that Saved the Vines: Bordeaux saw nearly 100mm of rain in June 2022. Thanks to the deep roots of the old vines, the plants were able to store that water and pull from it during the heatwaves.
The Blend: A precision mix of 74% Sauvignon Blanc (for crisp gooseberry and citrus aromatics) and 26% Sémillon (which adds a rich, oily “meaty” mouthfeel).
No Malolactic Fermentation: To maintain that racy, electric acidity, the winemaker intentionally blocked “Malo.” This keeps the wine fresh and prevents the creamy, buttery notes often found in Chardonnay.
The Posture: Fermented in used oak, the wine gains structure and “posture” without taking on heavy vanilla or baking spice flavors.
The Drop: 2022 Cos d’Estournel Blanc 🚨
Allocations for this legendary white drop today at 1 PM ET.
The Recommendation: This is a wine to buy in multiples. Drink one this summer to enjoy its energy, but lay others down for 5 to 10 years to see it evolve.
The Format: Sourced direct from the winery in three-bottle lots.
Provenance: As always, direct sourcing ensures perfect storage history from the cellar to your door.
Club dVIN Members 👉 Check your inbox at 1pm ET to secure your allocation 🍷
Missed the live session? You can watch the full replay here: https://dvin.app/cosdestournel
Cheers,
Jana
Co-founder, dVIN Labs 🍷