Bernard Magrez eyes more Bordeaux chateaux – report

Bernard Magrez, the multi-millionaire owner of Chateau Pape Clement and 40 other wine estates worldwide, has reportedly entered talks to buy two more classified Bordeaux chateaux.

Magrez was quoted as telling the Bordeaux Sud Ouest newspaper that he is looking to by more of the area’s classified chateaux, while potentially selling off up to 13 non-classified Bordeaux estates.

Magrez is reported to be in ‘final negotiations’ with a classified property in Margaux, and one other in Bordeaux, in deals ‘worth hundreds of millions of euros’, he was quoted as telling the paper.

He was not immediately available for comment when contacted by Decanter.com today (10 August).

In previous interviews, Magrez has not ruled out purchasing more classified estates in Bordeaux, portraying himself as an opportunist in the market.

His fortune is valued at €600m by France’s Challenges business publication and his wealth has doubled in the past 10 years.

As well as Pape Clement, Magrez currently owns three other classified properties; La Tour Carnet in Haut-Médoc, Fombrauge in Saint Emilion and Clos Haut-Peyraguey in Sauternes.

Besides his Bordeaux properties, Magrez owns 15 estates in the Languedoc-Rousillon, five in Spain, two in Provence, two in Argentina, two in Portugal, and one each in Chile, Japan, Morocco and Uruguay.

Via a partnership with Michelin starred chef Joel Robuchon, Magrez also has restaurants in Bordeaux and Paris.