Hubert Perrodo, French entrepreneur and owner of Margaux chateaux Marquis d’Alesme Becker, Labégorce and Labégorce-Zédé, has died aged 62.
Perrodo was best known in the wine world for his acquisitions in Margaux and with his ultimate aim of reuniting the crus bourgeois Labégorce properties, which originally belonged to the La Bégorce family prior to the 18 century, when it was split into three parts.
With the takeover of an unnamed Margaux property in 2003, and, finally, of Labégorce-Zédé two years ago, Perrodo realised his dream.
In July 2006, Perrodo also made headlines when he acquired the nearby Château Marquis d’Alesme Becker for a reported €30m (£20m).
As with all his Margaux acquisitions, much money was to be spent on improving the quality of the Margaux third growth – ‘rough and unpolished’ said decanter.com of the 2005 offering.
Wine industry insiders expect his brother, Joel, to take over the management of the estates.
However, it was not in wine that Perrodo began his career. Described by one wine writer as an ‘oil tycoon’, the French businessman made his fortune in founding energy company Perenco in the early 70s. Perenco currently operates in Europe, Africa and the Americas
The French entrepreneur and polo player died while on a skiing holiday in Courchevel, France, on Friday 29 December, as announced in The Times.
He is survived by his wife, Ka Yee, and by their children, Francois, Nathalie and Bertrand.
Written by Oliver Styles
