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Prats family acquires Chateau d’Estoublon in Provence
The Prats family, former owners of Cos d’Estournel in Bordeaux, has acquired Chateau d’Estoublon in Provence with media tycoon Stéphane Courbit, marking the latest high profile sale in the region.
Built in the 17th century, the 300-hectare estate in Baux-de-Provence was sold by the Reboul-Schneider family after over 20 years at the helm.
The organically farmed estate on the southern slope of the Alpilles includes 18 hectares of Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvèdre, Roussane and Marsanne vines planted on limestone, clay and sandy-silt gravel soils.
A new gravity-fed winery is currently under construction at the estate, which includes 10 guest suites and a restaurant, making it ideal for tourism.
With an estimated worth of over €800m, Courbit owns a number of luxury hotels in Courchevel, St. Tropez and Gordes.
In addition to wine, Chateau d’Estoublon is surrounded by 120 hectares of olive groves, from which it produces a range of extra virgin olive oils.
To mark the acquisition, a flagship premium rosé, called Roseblood d’Estoublon, will be released. The pale pink rosé is made from a blend of Grenache (50%), Cinsault (45%) and Tibouren (5%) and is said to be “vibrant with refreshing minerality”.
Roseblood will soon be distributed in France and the US, and will be rolled out to other global markets next year.
The sale of Chateau d’Estoublon is the latest in a growing number of high profile acquisitions in Provence, which is becoming a must have within winery porfolios.
Last May, luxury goods giant LVMH snapped up Château Galoupet in Côtes de Provence for an undisclosed sum.
Five months later, Chanel added to its already enviable wine portfolio, which includes Canon in Saint- Émilion and Rauzan-Ségla in Margaux, with the purchase of Domaine de l’Île on the crescent-shaped island of Porquerolles in Provence.
Last December, LVMH took a 55% stake in Sacha Lichine’s Château d’Esclans, maker of the wildly successful Whispering Angel brand, along with Garrus, which long held the crown as the world’s most expensive still rosé.
In May, Château Bas in Aix en Provence was acquired by Ficbal, the holding company owned by Catherine Castéja and her children, Charlotte Lafourcade Jumenbo, Hubert Castéja and Frédéric Castéja.
Earlier this month, Cos d’Estournel’s owner, Michel Reybier, acquired organic estate Château La Mascaronne from Tom Bove, an American in Provence who previously owned Château Miraval, which he renovated and sold to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.