Russian investor buys Sauternes estate

A Russian investor has bought Sauternes estate Clos Dady for €1.5m.

Clos Dady, a 6ha AOC Sauternes estate, with 3ha in AOC Graves which is bottled under the name Chateau Les Remparts, was sold to Ilkham Ragimov by Catherine and Christophe Gachet.

Ragimov is based in Moscow, where he is co-owner of the city¡¯s largest hotel complex, and is vice-president of the International Union of Lawyers, recognised for his work in promoting cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan.

At Clos Dady the winemaking will be overseen, at least initially, by Jerome Cosson and Audrey Fargues of nearby classified Sauternes property Chateau d¡¯Arche.

¡®We will be helping in terms of overseeing the wine-making, assisting with the necessary equipment while full renovations are being carried out,¡¯ Cosson told Decanter.com.

¡®But Clos Dady will continue to be made in its own cellars, and Mr Ragimov will be closely involved in all aspects. He is a wine lover, and intends to focus on quality, perhaps slightly lower production but increase the number of countries it is exported to.¡¯

This latest purchase brings the number of Russians with vineyards in Bordeaux to three ¨C the 27ha Château Livran in the M¨¦doc, which was bought in 2008 by Alexey Shkrapkin, and Château La Favi¨¨re in Saint-Seurin-sur-l'Isle which was bought in May 2011 by Natalia and Stanislay Zingerenko.

Just over the border in Bergearc, Château Thenac is owned by Russian oil billionaire Eugene Shvidler.