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Margaux appoints new managing director
Château Margaux has appointed Philippe Bascaules as its new managing director but he will also remain director of winemaking at Inglenook in California.
Currently managing Director of Francis Ford Coppola’s Inglenook estate in California, Bascaules will take up his new role in Bordeaux on 1 March 2017.
He will in fact be returning to the first growth property having acted as technical director there from 1990 to 2011 where he worked under Paul Pontallier, who died this spring.
Margaux’s owner, Corinne Mentzelopoulos, said: “During the 20 years he spent at the estate, we all deeply valued Philippe’s competence and wisdom. His great knowledge of the estate is an invaluable asset with which to guide and prepare the future of Château Margaux”.
Bascaules added: “I am very honoured Corinne Mentzelopoulos has appointed me managing director of Château Margaux and I like to think that Paul Pontallier would have been happy for me to carry on his work. I am thrilled to be reunited with my former colleagues at Château Margaux and delighted to be working on the wines and vineyards of the estate.”
However, despite returning to run Margaux Bascaules will not be relinquishing his responsibilities at Inglenook entirely.
The Californian estate has issued a statement in which it explains that Bascaules will remain director of winemaking; continuing to implement the 50-year plan he has drawn up there as well as overseeing the continued replanting of the property’s vineyards and design of a new cellar.
Francis Ford Coppola said: “Philippe’s devotion to Inglenook has created a winery that we can pass on to our children and their children. Château Margaux is Philippe’s alma mater, so it is logical and understandable to us that Phillipe would be called upon to return there after the untimely passing of the wonderful Paul Pontallier. When Phillipe was presented with the opportunity to return to Château Margaux, we were thrilled that he wished to continue working on both sides of the ocean.”