Saint-Estèphe’s Château Cos d’Estournel has some impressive bragging rights regarding its famous neighbors: the winery, dating back to 1810, is situated in close proximity to the esteemed Pauillac titan, Château Lafite-Rothschild. Over the years, the Château has proven that it can successfully compete with the best Left Bank neighbor in the business. The wines from Cos d’Estournel feature an uncommonly high blend of Merlot, particularly as compared to most classified Left Bank wines. As a result, they are known to have a more fleshy texture, complemented by rich dark fruits and inviting tannins. With 170 acres divided into 30 parcels, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are the dominant varietals, with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot cultivated to a much lesser extent. Château Cos d'Estournel, a Saint-Estèphe appellation, is most renowned for its namesake Grand Vin, which was classified as one of fifteen Deuxièmes Crus (Second Growths) in the original Bordeaux Classification of 1855.