Latour owner invests in Pomerol, St Emilion estates

The owner of Chateau Latour, Francois Pinault, has acquired a minority stake in Baronne Guichard, which owns three estates across Pomerol and St Emilion.

Francois Pinault, whose Artemis Holdings owns Chateau Latour

Pinault’s investment firm, Paris-based Artemis Holdings, has invested in the winemaking operations and become a minority shareholder in the Baronne Guichard estates of Chateaux Siaurac in Lalande-de-Pomerol, Le Prieuré in Saint Emilion and Vray Croix de Gay on the Pomerol plateau.

Baronne Guichard’s owner, Paul Goldschmidt, described the deal to decanter.com as a ‘technical partnership’. It should be completed for the 2014 vintage.

The exact amount invested was not confirmed, and he said Pinault has not taken any portion of ownership in the vineyards themselves.

Goldschmidt will remain as managing director and majority owner, and will continue to use his existing commercial relationships with the Place de Bordeaux.

Former technical director of Latour, Penelope Godefroy, has begun working full-time at Siaurac across all three Right Bank properties.

‘Godefroy is currently carrying out a full inventory of the vineyards, and will be making recommendations as to what extent we will follow Latour into organic and biodynamic winemaking,’ said Goldschmidt.

‘We have three magnificent properties here, and this investment from a solid, serious partner will ensure that they reach their potential’.

Latour’s president, Frederic Engerer, will sit on the Baronne Guichard board. Alongside Latour, Pinault’s Artemis owns Chateau Grillet, Domaine d’Eugenie and Araujo Vineyards in Napa, California.

Written by Jane Anson in Bordeaux