Just read on Twitter (through Bill Nanson):
WOW, surprised I’m the first to respond. Love the wines, and pretty surprised Jean-Charles sold. He must have been offered a ton of money.
A quick search shows that Forbes estimates Pinault’s net worth at 14.6 Billion. So he can buy wineries like we buy bottles, or at least cases, of wine.
P Hickner
Well actually, Patrick Essa says he put it for sale about 6 months ago and raised a lot of interest. Last week, I had my first ever Bonneau Charlie (2007) at a Christmas do and it was really singing.
Good buy but maybe the seller sold at the right time… Prices have gone so crazy…
But still, this is a historic winery! I don’t remember in which book on Burgundy (Jasper Morris’ I believe) there is a story about Jean-Charles le Bault de la Morinière reacting weirdly to a mention of the French revolution, because he still had personal feelings about it. Can money replace centuries of family history? Not that I am in a position to answer such a question, but I would say, hopefully not!
I reached for my Jasper’s bible…and you are right. The family got the domaine just after the revolution. It was then 24 Ha. Bits and pieces were sold which left 11 Ha of which 9.5 Ha Corton Charlemagne.
Funny that comment as, somehow, they benefitted from the revolution at least to buy the domaine.
Was it church property before that, I would guess?
I wonder if anyone has compiled a list of the great properties that changed a hand as a result of the Revolution. It wasn’t just in France. In the Ruwer, both Maximum Grunhaus and Karthauserhof were monastery properties. When Napoleon marched through the Mosel in the early 1800s, he auctioned off the church vineyards there, too.
hope he gets a discount for all the premoxed bottles if purchase price included inventory.
Indeed, and a very detailed account of how the famous Scharzhofberg changed hands from the church to the current owner (the Egon Müller dynasty) during Napoleon’s rule can be found on Lars Carlberg website (behind the pay wall, I’m afraid).
I was thinking the same thing.
You know what’s ironic, I’ve had a ton of Bonneau du Martray (including their red), and I’ve had exactly 1 premoxed bottle.
I haven’t had a ton, but I’ve never had a poxed one. The only advanced one I had was a 1989 this year and that’s hardly pox (and it was still very good).
I met with Jean Charles during a tasting visit in early November. He made an impression on me discussing his view that he he was merely a custodian for these lands that had been in his family for generations. He stressed that he saw himself as a steward who wanted to leave the vines in better shape than he got them for future generations. Not sure whom is heirs are, but I have to say I was very surprised to read this news. I felt like I had been “spun” a bit during our visit.
Indeed as the property has been for sale for 6 months… according to P Essa. You have been spinned!..sorry spun… feeling dizzy?
I have met Jean-Charles de la Morinière in two occasions recently and from what were the discussions, I have difficulties to imagine that he has sold his property.
Of course I can be wrong, but he is so proud to have this property that to decide a sale if he is not forced to do is hard to believe.
Let us wait for more information.
Last year Jean-Charles de la Morinière told me in was not yet clear if any of his children would have an interest in running Bonneau du Martray. The most likely reason to sell would be if none of them wanted to pursue that path.
Makes sense, thanks for the remark. It would still be interesting to know what the plans for the immediate future are.
Like with Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne…your patience will be rewarded.
I will run it!
You’ll reimburse us for premoxed bottles, right?