Château Cos d’Estournel: The Modern Era
Charles Cecil Martyn permitted Louis Gaspard d’Estournel to continue living at Pommies because it would seem he had no intention of using any of these acquisitions as a residential property. An absentee landlord, he remained distant from the affairs of the estate, appointing none other than Jérôme Chiapella, proprietor of Château La Mission Haut-Brion, to look after the vineyards and wine. The duo must have been popular employers, as their success was measured not only in how they raised the quality of the wine, but also in their forward-thinking approach to their workers who received free healthcare, and retired employees were housed rent-free on the estate.
Some of the practices instigated by Martyn and Chiapella are still true of Château Cos d’Estournel today, despite the fact that the estate has seen a succession of owners since their time. In 1860 Martyn sold Cos Labory, which he had acquired alongside Cos d’Estournel, and in 1869 he also sold the latter.
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