Moueix sells four chteaux

Christian Moueix, the Bordeaux winemaker whose family owns Chteau Ptrus, has sold four properties in the Fronsac and Canon-Fronsac regions in a move that may pave the way for purchases in Pomerol and St Emilion. The properties were bought by Jean Halley, whose family owns 11.69% of the supermarket chain, Carrefour Promods. UK agent John Armit denied that the chteaux were underperforming, but said that Moueix wanted to rationalise his interests within the two Right Bank regions. "Christian wants to concentrate on what he considers are the higher-quality regions of Pomerol and St Emilion. This is part of his move in that direction," Armit told Harpers. However, Armit also added that Moueix "is getting together a treasury for some big purchases in Pomerol and St Emilion. He is going to concentrate his core interests." Moueix will continue to make wine and manage the properties sold. Those estates are Chteau de La Dauphine, Chteau Canon-de-Brem and Chteau La Croix-Canon. The Canon-Moueix property, also in Canon-Fronsac, has been sold too, but the name will stay with the Moueix family. Moueix is reported to have said that La Dauphine needs over 1 million to restore the property. Moueix would not reveal the sale price, except to say that it was "a very big offer".