Château Haut-Batailley : the new Cazes Family acquisition

Friday March 31st 2017, Jean-Charles Cazes, the familial group CEO, confirmed the redemption of the Château Haut-Batailley.

It’s in the middle of the Bordeaux en Primeurs week that the formalization of the Chateau Haut-Bataillley’ sale has been done between the Brest-Borie and the Cazes families. The Cazes are already owners of the famous Chateau Lynch-Bages since 1939 (Grand Cru Classé, Pauillac), and also of others vineyards like the Chateau Ormes de Pez (Saint-Estèphe).

The coveted Chateau Haut-Batailley exploits since several vintages all its beautiful area and old vines potential, and produces great value for money AOC wines of Pauillac, as well as a second beautiful wine: La Tour d’Aspic. The Chateau Haut-Batailley winery is composed by Cabernet-Sauvignon (70%), Merlot (25%) and Cabernet Franc (5%).

It could be transferred to a Chinese or an American billionaire like other large estates has been, but the Brest-Borie family choose the Cazes Family “for their caring and great know-how”. Indeed, the Cazes have one of the most beautiful Medoc’s vineyards, in particular through their renovated technical facilities and the vat reconstruction.

The Castle sale, “Grand cru classé” 1855 in Pauillac, is above all a transmission history between two winegrowers’ families, very good friends and well-established in the Medoc and Pauillac landscapes since several generations: “With the Cazes, we are sure about the fact that our wines identity and quality will be perpetuated”, said Francois-Xavier Borie, the Family nephew. It’s also asserted by Jean-Charles Cazes, which confirms that this Castel redemption is above all “the acquisition of a beautiful brand, which its wines quality is constantly evolving”.

In order to be able to respect their engagements, The Cazes will manage independently the property, with an entirely dedicated technical team. Their first action will be the expansion of the vineyard from 28 to 40 hectares, on the purpose to increase the production between 120 000 and 140 000 bottles.

This acquisition allows to the Cazes Family to strengthen its ties in Pauillac, already well-insured by the Chateau Lynch-Bages, currently under rework until 2019. The amount of the transaction hasn’t been revealed, but some specialists agree to estimate the domain at 2 millions of euros per hectare.