Château Margaux owner Corinne Mentzelopolous has named Philippe Bascaules as the Bordeaux first-growth estate's new managing director. He will assume the position held by Paul Pontallier, who led the estate from 1983 until his death earlier this year. The move is official starting March 1, 2017.
It’s a homecoming for Bascaules, who worked at Margaux as technical director for 21 vintages, beginning in 1990, under Pontallier’s stewardship. "I am very honoured Corinne Mentzelopoulos has appointed me and I like to think that Paul Pontallier would have been happy for me to carry on his work," Bascaules told Wine Spectator.
Bascaules has been working at Francis Ford Coppola’s Inglenook Estate in Napa since 2011, and the winery announced that he will remain director of winemaking there. He and his team are in the midst of a major replanting of the historic California property, as well as the design of a new winery facility.
"Philippe's devotion to Inglenook has created a winery that we can pass on to our children and their children," said Coppola in a statement. "Château Margaux is Philippe's alma mater, so it is logical and understandable to us that he would be called upon to return there after the untimely passing of the wonderful Paul Pontallier. When Phillippe was presented with the opportunity to return to Château Margaux, we were thrilled that he wished to continue working on both sides of the ocean."
Bascaules will stay full-time at Inglenook until March 1. "Francis and I will hire a day-to-day winemaker and a general manager for Inglenook," said Bascaules. "As director of winemaking for Inglenook, I will collaborate with the team and we will work together on decisions that affect Inglenook’s vineyards, winemaking, harvest and the long-term plans we began five years ago."
At Margaux, Bascaules will join deputy managing directors Aurélien Valance, who has worked at Château Margaux for 15 years, and Alexandra Mentzelopolous, along with viticulturist and winemaker Sébastien Vergne, who joined in 2015 and was recently promoted to estate director.
“We are very confident that this strong and loyal team, which has already shown its numerous talents, will pass on Paul Pontallier's legacy to the younger part of the team and ensure the continuity of Château Margaux and its constant research of excellence,” Corinne Mentzelopolous told Wine Spectator.
