Chinese architect Wengcheng Li has acquired Chateau La Fleur Jonquet in Graves.
Pic: Fleur Jonquet Vines
La Fleur Jonquet will become Li’s third wine property in Bordeaux, where he already owns Chateau La Dominante, in Saint–Denis de Pile and Chateau Lucas in Castillon-la-Bataille.
The deal for the nine-hectare Fleur Jonquet, a family business based in Arbanats and Portets, is another example of Chinese investors moving into Bordeaux wine production.
‘Everything will continue as before,’ Fleur Jonquet cellarmaster Eric Jouin told Decanter.com, adding that he and others will remain in their posts.
La Fleur Jonquet’s winemaker and newly ex-owner, Laurence Lataste, could not be immediately reached for comment. However, she was quoted as telling the Sud Ouest newspaper that she decided to sell because none of her three children wanted to take the Chateau on.
She added that the chateau exports 75% of its annual production, which is around 50,000 bottles.
A third generation winemaker, Lataste founded the chateau in 1986, originally calling it Junquet. It has vines more than 80 years old, some of the oldest in Graves.
Written by Chris Mercer
