American, billionaires, aesthetes and fond of the French heritage, Sherry and Zaya Younan are a closely linked couple. With a passion for art, old stones and vineyards, the couple set themselves the mission to buy exceptional residences in France to renovate them and turn them into luxury hotels.
The Younans took up a lovely challenge and purchased Château La Croix Fourney. With a 9.5-hectare vineyard in Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Château Younan promises to release excellent cuvees in a near future.
Zaya Younan, what attracts you in France?
My wife and I are fond of history and places with a soul. In the United States I construct buildings; in France, we love to renovate old residences. We turn them into welcoming and very comfortable luxury hotels, with a gourmet restaurant. Our motto can be summed up in one sentence: “Everyone deserves a night in a castle.”
How did you get interested in the French vineyards?
We love to enjoy French wines. Opening a bottle is always a surprise. We appreciate to discover wines that express the characteristics of a soil. The terroir does the whole thing. The man cooperates with the vines. The cuvees have to be vinified lovingly. Wine making is an art, not a hobby. We thought it was natural to find an estate with a vineyard having a terroir that met our expectations.
Why did you choose Bordeaux's region?
As from our first stop in Paris in 1985, we have been to the Loire Valley and to the region of Bordeaux. Ever since we were attracted by the idea to own a vineyard. I visited several estates for sale with my friend Michel-Jack Chasseuil, a faithful collector of Grand Crus. Arriving at Château La Croix Fourney, he showed me the potential of the Saint-Emilion appellation, one of the oldest AOCs of Bordeaux. I could not resist to include this treasure into La Grande Maison Younan Collection's portfolio. The estate has a beautiful 9.5-hectare vineyard planted with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon on a clayey and silicious soil.
What is your ambition for this estate bought in July 2017?
In a quest for excellence, we are firmly decided to leave our mark on the next cuvees of Château La Croix Fourney. Our investment policy started by renovating the cellars and by carefully choosing the oak barrels to guarantee the best quality possible for the vinification and ageing process. We want the best to produce Grand Crus of Saint-Emilion in the purest tradition. For the 2017 harvest, we waited until the last moment to pick by hand. We decided to take the time necessary to market our wines. The 'Legacy' cuvee will be made of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Interview by Sarah Canonge
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