Cheval Blanc buys Quinault

Bernard Arnault and the Belgian banker Albert Frère, the joint owners of Ch. Cheval Blanc, have bought Ch. Quinault in St. Emilion from Dr. Alain Raynaud, who remains owner of Croix de Gay and Fleur de Gay.

Raynaud's financial problems were hardly a secret and he blames his bad luck on low crops since he took over in 1997 due to hail, frost, and the 2003 heat wave.

Raynaud is reponsible for creating the Cercle Rive Droite association of Right Bank producers.

Best regards,
Alex R.

FWIW, I note that the new Bettane/Desseauve Grand Guide does not put Cheval Blanc in its top 5 star category (Ausone is there) and that the 2009 edition of RVF's Les Meilleurs Vins de France demotes it from 3 to 2 stars. It is academic for me as it is well above my price range but the few bottles which have come my way have always seemed remarkably fine and elegant.

[Jenise]

It is academic for me as it is well above my price range but the few bottles which have come my way have always seemed remarkably fine and elegant.

Ditto.