Portrait de vignerons Saint-Estèphe
WISE Investments to find
the splendoUr of former days
Château Calon-Ségur, 3rd Grand Cru classed in 1855, is one of the oldest properties of the Médoc. Proud lineages of owners succeeded each other and especially illustrious member of the Parliament and Marquis Nicolas-Alexandre de Ségur.
However, since a few decades, the Château remained discreet in spite of a terroir with a good potential and wines recognized by the greatest tasters. When Madam Gasqueton passed away, the administrative and financial hazards of the inheritance led the family to sell the property. On November 8th, 2012, the Suravenir company, subsidiary of the Credit Mutuel Arkéa banking group, officially becomes the owner of Château Calon-Ségur. The insurer associates with the Videlot group (5% of the shares), chaired by Jean-François Moueix, owner of Pétrus and the Duclot trade house. The amount of the transaction, which also concerns Château Capbern Gasqueton in Saint-Estèphe, amounts to 170 million euros for a total of 93 hectares of vineyards. Since then, the existing teams have been maintained, even strengthened, and an ambitious program of renovation was set up with a single objective: give the property the means to promote its image, its quality and its know-how.
For that, let us remind some important dates: in the 18th century, our dear Marquis, visionary for that time and marketing man without knowing it, liked to say: “I make some wine at Lafite and at Latour but my heart is at Calon”, a heart that will become the signature of the chateau’s labels. Extravagant and distingué character, he formed the soul of Calon and his portrait now has pride of place in the new offices.
In 2013, Laurent Dufau (previously manager of the Ballande and Meneret trade house) is appointed manager of the estate. Vincent Millet, recruited in 2006 by Denise Gasqueton, is consolidated in his position as chief operating officer. Sophie Marc, in charge of press relations, will complement this duet. A trio thus and investments managed by Jean-Pierre Denis, chairman of the Credit Mutuel Arkéa group, a bank of the real economy which chose, here, to make equity investments. About twenty million euros will be injected by 2017: a new tasting room, the reconstruction of the vathouse to adapt it to the by-plot vinification and to use gravity techniques, the extension of the first year wine cellar, the renovation of the Chateau and its park …
Without forgetting the importance of the work led by Vincent Millet for the restructuring of the vineyard, by especially increasing the density. The massal selections for the Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc will allow, as for them, to diversify the vegetable material and to preserve the genetic heritage of the estate. Let us remain in the dignified evocation of the Marquis, named “the prince of the vineyards” at the court of King Louis XV, and let Chateau Calon-Ségur take back, even transcend its rank.
Florence Varaine
Château Calon-Ségur
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