Going, Going, Gone

I am slightly sceptical of the idea that Burgundy is disappearing into foreign hands. It is true there have been some very high–profile cases of late, notably Clos de Tart and Domaine Bonneau du Martray, where in each case some family members would have preferred not to sell. The fame of the domaines has put these transactions into the public eye, but they are still the exception rather than the rule. More worrying is the issue of the prices paid: exceptionally high valuations of vineyard land have a bearing on inheritance taxes and on rental values, factors which to some extent underpin underlie recent price rises in Burgundy.

The latest domaine to come under the hammer is the underperforming Domaine Rebourseau in Gevrey-Chambertin where Martin Bouyges (Château Montrose, Clos Rougeard) is understood to have bought a 51% share.