Haut-Brion owner Domaine Clarence Dillon has bought Chateau L’Arrosée, a Grand Cru Classé estate in Saint Emilion.
The purchase has been made through the subsidiary Quintus SAS, wholly owned by the Dillon family.
Chateau L’Arrosée has been owned by Roger and Jean-Philippe Caille since 2002. The 9.5ha property borders Chateau Quintus, which Domaine Clarence Dillon bought in 2011.
Unusually for Saint Emilion, L’Arrosée has 20% of Cabernet Sauvignon, along with 20% of Cabernet Franc.
The Dillon family has issued a statement saying they ‘look forward to continuing the exceptional work undertaken in this vineyard by Monsieur Roger Caille and his family since their arrival at this exceptional estate in 2002’.
The agreement was signed on 29 May by the Caille family and Clarence Dillon president Prince Robert of Luxembourg.
Gilles Pauquet is currently consultant oenologist at l’Arrosée. To date, the Clarence Dillon estates use their own oenologists, director Jean-Philippe Delmas and technical director Jean-Philippe Masclef.
The purchase of Chateau L’Arrosée will be completed in September. A spokesperson for Clarence Dillon confirmed the sale to Decanter.com, and said no decisions on the running of the property would be taken until September
Written by Jane Anson in Bordeaux
