Robert Wilmers, owner of Chateau Haut-Bailly, has bought his immediate neighbour Chateau Le Pape.
The seven-hectare Chateau Le Pape (pictured), owned by Patrick Monjanel since 1998, is located on the highest point of the Pessac Leognan appellation.
The vineyard is planted to 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, at a density of 6,500 vines per hectare, with an average production of 33,000 bottles.
Haut-Bailly said in a press release that Huat-Bailly managing director Veronique Sanders would now run both properties, while technical director Gabriel Vialar – who has worked at both Mouton Rothschild and Smith Haut Lafitte – will be in charge of technical decisions at Le Pape.
The release states, ‘We plan in the near future to begin an investment programme which will allow the chateau to be counted among the best in the appellation.’
Wilmers has the right to include the vines within Haut-Bailly, as both are within the Pessac Leognan appellation, but Sanders confirmed to Decanter.com that there are no plans to use the vines of Le Pape to extend Haut-Bailly.
‘We intend to conserve the identity of this beautiful estate,’ she said.
Written by Jane Anson in Bordeaux
