Frey family buys Burgundy estate

Chateau La Lagune and Domaine Paul Jaboulet Ainé owners the Frey family has snapped up Château de Corton André in Burgundy for an undisclosed sum.

Caroline Frey, winemaker at both La Lagune and Jaboulet, confirmed news of the sale, completed by her father Jean-Jacques Frey, this week on Facebook.

Situated on the Corton hill in the Cote de Beaune, Château de Corton André spans seven hectares in Corton, Corgon-Charlemange, Meursault, Volnay and Pommard.

The estate was part of the Maison Corton André négociant, which was sold earlier this month to rival Burgundy négociant Bejot Vins & Terroirs.

Boasting an elaborate tiled roof similar to that of the Hospices de Beaune, the château was formerly run by the Ballande group, owners of chateau Prieure Lichine in Bordeaux.

Caroline Frey will run the property in addition to 80-hectare Haut-Médoc third growth Château La Lagune and the 110-hectare Domaines Paul Jaboulet Ainé in the Rhône Valley.

Taking the helm at La Lagune in 2004, under Frey’s stewardship the wines have undergone a renaissance. During her tenure, Frey has overseen the rebuilding of the winery at La Lagune and made strides in implementing elements of organic and biodynamic viticulture.

She recently revived the tradition of blending Bordeaux with Rhône via a new release, Evidence, a 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon from La Lagune and Shiraz from Domaine de Thalabert in Crozes-Hermitage.

Claret was often blended with Syrah from the Rhône in the 19^th century in order to boost its colour and body before the practice was banned under AOC legislation.

“Blending Bordeaux with Syrah from the Rhône was done slightly secretly in the past. Not everyone in Bordeaux is comfortable speaking about the practice, which is not very well known, but it works really well,” Frey told db.

She came up with the idea for Evidence in 2006 after weekly journeys between La Lagune in Haut-Médoc and Jaboulet in the northern Rhône.