Chopard boss Scheufele buys Château Monestier La Tour

He is registered as the owner together with his wife. Both had been searching a renounced château for many years, and as early as when they first visited the 100-hectar château Monestier La Tour, about 20 km away from Bergerac, they fell in love with it. The estate from the 13th century, which has been purchased and renovated by Philip de Haseth-Möller, a Dutch businessman, has 30 hectares of vineyards with chalky and loamy soils. There is a big, well-kept park directly huddling against the château.

In 2002 and 2003, besides the renovation of the estate and of the park, Mr. Haseth-Möller had, the vineyards partially restored, partially renovated. To do this, he hired Claude Bourguignon, a wine-growing engineer, who was supported by Jean de Laitre, the manager of the wine estate. Mr. Haseth-Möller, however, attached as well particular importance to the quality of the wine and to the orientation of the wine style. In order to be innovative and, at the same time, in line with the market, he cooperated with Stéphaen Derenencourt, a French vintner and wine counselor.

Mr. Scheufele, who is now allowed to build on Mr. Haseth-Möller’s professional work, wants to bring the wine-growing estate forward. Nevertheless, there is no information available about Mr. Scheufele’s plans, apart from a new house-made cuvee. Now, at the moment of the taking over, the château Monestier La Tour produces about 90,000 bottles based on the kinds of grapes Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, as well as 60,000 bottles of the kinds of grapes Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle. (red.yoopress)