Winesearcher has reported that the Cru Bourgeois Chateau Greysac has been sold to Jean Guyon, owner of Chateaux Rollan de By, La Clare, Haut Condissas and Tour Seran. Greysac lies in the hamlet of By in Bégadan (in the Medoc, north of Saint Estephe) and borders Rollan de By and Guyon’s other estates.
Chateau Greysac was founded in the late 1940s by French engineer Georges Héreil. It was acquired in the 1970s by the late Baron François de Gunzburg and since 1975 it has been owned by the Italian Agnelli family (famous for being the main shareholder of the Fiat automobile company). The President of the company was Count Brandino Brandolini d’Adda who also owns the Vistorta estate in Italy’s Friuli region.
Greysac’s purchase price was not disclosed but the sale included 296 acres of vineyards on three separate estates: Chateau Greysac, Le Monthil and By – which produce the wine for the Greysac label. Greysac produces around 600,000 bottles each year and the grapes grown are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The chateau also makes a dry white at Bégadan from 5 acres planted Sauvignon Blanc vines.
Jean Guyon has said that “Greysac has the same exceptional terroirs which set the reputation of châteaux Haut Condissas and Rollan de By, terroir having shown its quality and richness . . .”
The previous owners of Greysac have said that “after having been the owner during almost 40 years, we are happy to have sold Chateau Greysac to Domaines Rollan de By which unifies two fantastic vineyards in one and only Estate, sitting on some of the best gravely terroirs of the Médoc. They will certainly continue to produce excellent wines”
Domaines Rollan de By’s commercial director, Lionel Tonnerieux, told Wine Searcher:
“Our goal is to quickly produce a wine of a similar quality to Rollan de By, which is seen as great value for money in the Médoc. Greysac sits on one of the best terroirs in the northern Médoc, so it has great potential.”
With the purchase of Greysac Guyon now produces 1 million bottles annually and now owns 500 acres around the region of By. This move joins together two leading Cru Bourgeois and with Guyon’s wines receiving high praise Greysac looks certain to benefit from the purchase.