Chanel acquires third Bordeaux estate

The House of Chanel has confirmed it has bought Château Berliquet in Saint Emilion, adding it to its stable of properties in the region.

Although it has been known since this July that the fashion house’s owners, Alain and Gérard Wertheimer, had snapped up the property, the news has only just been made official.

Located on the limestone plateau just outside the town of Saint Emilion, the 24 hectare property directly adjoins one of the brothers’ other Bordeaux estates – Château Canon. The two estates will be managed separately, however, although head winemaker Nicolas Audebert will be in charge of the vinification as he is at Canon and Rauzan-Ségla (the Wertheimer’s other property in Margaux).

One of the oldest estates in Saint Emilion, Berliquet has 18ha under vine with 75% of the plantings being Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and a very little bit of Cabernet Sauvignon.

The acquisition is one of several high-profile sales in Bordeaux this year, with Troplong Mondot (also in Saint Emilion) being sold to a French insurance firm in July and Château Phelan-Ségur in Saint Estèphe being bought by a Belgian shipping magnate in August.