Former owner and namesake Louis Gaspard d'Estournel was known as the Maharajah of Saint-Estèphe. He decorated the castle in Indian style, gave great parties and lived above his means. In 1852 he was completely destitute and had to sell his domain. He died a year later. Cos d'Estournel is arguably the Chateau with the most new and advanced wine-making technique. From the picking to the maturing of the bottles, everything is carefully checked and executed with the utmost care. For example, they have managed to create a vinification process in which the wine is transported without pumps. All operations are performed by gravity. In 1855, the Chateau obtained the 2nd Grand Cru Classe status