Petrus successor named as Moueix appoints new director

Eric Murisasco, long-time cellar master and oenologist for Jean Pierre Moueix, has been confirmed as successor to Jean Claude Berrouet, with Berrouet’s son taking the winemaker post at Petrus.

Murisasco starts as technical director for the Jean Pierre Moueix company on 31 December, when Berrouet retires after his 44th vintage.

As reported on decanter.com earlier this month, Berrouet will relinquish control of eleven properties in the Moueix stable.

However, it is with Chateau Petrus that Berrouet is most closely associated – and the family association is set to continue with his son Olivier taking over as winemaker at the legendary Pomerol property.

Olivier Berrouet, however, has no real experience of working at Petrus. His current post is that of oenologist with Pierre Lurton at Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau La Tour du Pin since 2004.

‘The best advice I can give to him,’ Berrouet told decanter.com, ‘Is to respect the personality of the wine, and to be humble before nature.’

Berrouet will remain a consultant for the Moueix properties and will focus on his own family wineries, Vieux Château Saint André in Montagne St Emilion and the Henri Mina vineyard in Iroulgéy, the tiny appellation in the Pyrenées.

Written by Jane Anson in Bordeaux