As you may have heard in the press Domaines Clarence Dillon, owners of Chateau Haut Brion, have purchased Chateau Tertre Daugay in Saint Emilion. This follows the recent purchase of Chateau Matras, Tertre Daugay’s neighbour, by Chateau Canon (owned by Chanel). Saint Emilion seems to be attracting interest as wine makers spot the potential amongst its vines . . . last year … Read more
Chateau Laulan Ducos has been purchased by TESiRO and is now the 5th chateau (as far as I know) to have been acquired by Chinese investors in the past 4 years. The others being Chateaux de Viaud, Latour Laguens, Laffitte Chenu and Richelieu. If you know of any more please let me know. TESiRO is the Chinese joint venture of … Read more
Following on from the news that Chateau Laulan Ducos was purchased by the Chinese jewellery giant TESiRO I spotted that Adams French Vineyards have sold Chateau Lagarosse to Chung Keung Steve Loo, an investor from Hong Kong. This sale managed to slip under my radar and took place in early February. Not much is known about the buyer from Hong … Read more
Apparently the wine of Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste is nicknamed Crocodile Wine in China due to the name being the same as the famous French sports ware with the crocodile logo. The Lacoste company takes the crocodile as its logo from its founder, the world-renowned tennis player, René Lacoste (1904–1996) who was nicknamed “The Crocodile” by the U.S. press. However … Read more
The Chateau Pichon Longueville (or Pichon Baron as it is often called) can trace its roots back to the 1500s when it was known as Batisse and was the stronghold of the family Montguyon who were family vassals of the Lords of Latour. The vineyards lie at the southern end of Pauillac, immediately alongside those of Chateau Latour, on a high plateau between the village … Read more
I have always been intrigued by Chateau Pavie – not only because of the wine but partly due to its name and partly due to its history. Pavie is one of the most ancient vineyards in Saint Emilion and it lies next to the First Growth Chateau Ausone, which is named for Ausonius Consul of Gaul (Decimus Magnus … Read more
The news broke yesterday that Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion has been sold for a record sum to Patrice Pichet, a real estate developer based in Pessac. Pichet bought the 4.7 hectare property for 18 million euros which has caused quite a stir in Bordeaux as this gives a price of 3.82 million euros a hectare (there … Read more
The Chateau L’Enclos is one of the few wine making estates in Pomerol that actually has a chateau (built in 1898). Despite its history and the fine wines Pomerol produces it is something of an anomaly when compared to the other famous communes of Bordeaux, as there are no grand estates or imposing chateaux. It is sparsely populated … Read more
With Chateau La Conseillante 2009 being one of my favourite wines of the vintage (I think it could be superb) and Neal Martin posting his notes and praising a selection of vintages from 1981 – 2005 on Robert Parker’s site, I thought it was about time to look at this chateau again. (I wrote about La Conseillante and its namesake in Chateau La … Read more
The Fourth Growth Chateau Branaire Ducru was once part of Château Beychevelle but became separate in the 1600s when the estate was partitioned. The other Château that was formed from this division was Château Ducru Beaucaillou. Branaire Ducru (sometimes known as Chateau Branaire Duluc Ducru) takes its name from Jean Baptiste Braneyre who purchased it in 1680 and from the Duluc family. … Read more
