Chateau Lascombes, unofficially on the market for a number of months, is thought to have expanded its vine area by at least 28 hectares, it has emerged.
The Margaux chateau, classified second growth in the 1855 ranking, is reported by the Revue du Vin de France to be renting the vines of neighbouring ex-cru bourgeois Chateau Martinens. This includes 28ha of AOC Margaux, plus a potential 25ha of AOC Haut Medoc, bringing its total vineyard area to 108ha.
Lascombes has been owned by American pension group Capital Colony, who bought it from British brewers Bass Charrington for around €70m in 2001. The group invested heavily in the chateau and the winery, first installing Alain Raynaud, former president of the Union des Grand Crus as director, and later Dominique Befve.
Although the quality of the wines has been improving since Capital Colony’s arrival, it is widely believed that the group has been in discussions with a number of potential buyers for some time.
Dominique Befve did not wish to comment on the story, but sources in Margaux confirmed that despite expansion, the property remains on the market.
Written by Jane Anson in Bordeaux
