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Louis Jadot Buys Venerable Pouilly-Fuissé Estate For Chardonnays

Domaines Devillard also adds Mâcon property to its portfolio

Bruce Sanderson

Posted: Friday, June 27, 2008

Maison Louis Jadot of Beaune added a prime piece of Pouilly-Fuissé real estate to its extensive Burgundy holdings recently, purchasing Domaine J.-A. Ferret in April for an undisclosed price. The sale includes 37 acres of some of the best vineyards in the appellation.

"It's a great property and we have been very fortunate to buy it," said Jadot president Pierre-Henry Gagey. For Jadot, Ferret provides a jewel in the Mâconnais to complement the négociant's holdings in the Côte d'Or and Château des Jacques in the Beaujolais cru of Moulin-à-Vent, purchased in 1996. "That [purchase of Domaine Ferret] makes a family in Louis Jadot that's very good," Gagey added.

Ferret was established in 1760 and, according to Gagey, was one of the first properties in Pouilly-Fuissé to bottle its own wines, starting more than 60 years ago. Managed by Colette Ferret since 1993, it produces vineyard-designated Chardonnays with a reputation for aging. In addition to the Ferret wines, Jadot will continue to make a Pouilly-Fuissé under its négociant label. "We have been successful with that for a long time," said Gagey.

In another recent acquisition in the Mâconnais, Domaine de la Garenne in Azé was purchased by a group associated with Domaines Devillard in May. Pauline Devillard (the wife of Devillard proprietor Amaury Devillard), her father, her brother and Devillard winemaker Robert Vernizeau are the investors. Domaines Devillard, which consists of Domaine des Perdrix in the Côte d'Or, Château de Chamirey and Domaine de la Ferté in the Côte Chalonnaise, will be responsible for the production and marketing of the wines.

The 11.5-acre south-facing vineyard, which produces Chardonnay under the Mâcon-Azé appellation, is located mid-slope with limestone soils. The vines are 22 years old. "We are looking to produce the Domaine de la Garenne's wines with the same qualitative requirement as the Domaine des Perdrix or Château de Chamirey's wines," said Amaury Devillard.

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