The Jean-Michel Cazes group has acquired the Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate Domaine des Sénéchaux.

The purchase adds to the Cazes portfolio which includes the lauded fifth-growth Bordeaux château Lynch-Bages, as well as Ormes de Pez (Bordeaux), L’Ostal Cazes (Languedoc) and joint-ventures Xisto in Portugal and Tapanappa in Australia with celebrated winemaker and 2004 Decanter man of the year Brian Croser.

Jean-Charles Cazes, who recently took over the Cazes group from his father Jean-Michel, said the acquisition was ‘part of our plan to bring together vineyards of the highest quality and complement our estate in the south of France.’

The domaine is one of the oldest in the Châteauneufregion, tracing its history back to the 14th century. It had been in the hands of the Roux family since 1993.

‘I am proud and happy to sell this estate to the Cazes family,’ said Pascal Roux, who also runs the Gigondas estate Château du Trignon.

Domaine des Sénéchaux is a 27ha estate and currently produces around 8,000 cases per year.

Written by Oliver Styles

Chris Mercer
Chris Mercer

Chris Mercer is a Bristol-based freelance editor and journalist who spent nearly four years as digital editor of Decanter.com, having previously been Decanter’s news editor across online and print.

He has written about, and reported on, the wine and food sectors for more than 10 years for both consumer and trade media.

Chris first became interested in the wine world while living in Languedoc-Roussillon after completing a journalism Masters in the UK. These days, his love of wine commonly tests his budgeting skills.

Beyond wine, Chris also has an MSc in food policy and has a particular interest in sustainability issues. He has also been a food judge at the UK’s Great Taste Awards.