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SILVIO DENZ ACQUIRES

CHATEAU LAFAURIE–PEYRAGUEY

premier grand cru classé of sauternes

"Lafaurie-Peyraguey always shows great concentration, with an obvious richness which is

expressed in its balance. However, there is an innate finesse and elegance to this wine that save it

from overdoing the superlative in a way that could verge on heaviness.

An exceptional terroir, the purity of the botrytis, an acidity that is always well-defined, and a depth

and aromatic complexity that only increase with age, are the cornerstones of this wine's

architecture.

A Sauternes of excellent lineage that is both distinguished and incredibly appealing, this major

grand vin in the world of botrytis wines is a source of wonder and delight for lovers of 'liquid gold'."

Pierre Casamayor, Revue du Vin de France.

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THE PROUD HISTORY OF A PREMIER GRAND CRU CLASSÉ

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, at the heart of the great terroirs of the Sauternes region

The history and reputation of Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey are inextricably bound up with those

of the Sauternes appellation. A very old wine-producing property, it is located in the heart of the

Sauternes region, on high ground just outside the village of Bommes. The oldest stones of the

perimeter wall and the entrance, thought to be the most ancient structure in the commune of

Bommes, were extracted from quarries close to the banks of the Ciron river in the 13th century.

The commune of Bommes, with six of the eleven Premiers Crus Classés, has long been home to the

finest wines of the Sauternes appellation, and abounds with remnants of ancient times: the pre-

historic caves beside the Ciron, a Roman staging post at Maisons Rouges (part of Lafaurie-

Peyraguey), a 10th-century Benedictine priory, a hospital established in 1310 by the Order of St

Anthony, and a manor house dating from the 16th century, to name but a few.

Eight centuries of history preserved

The wealth of relics and archive material preserved at the château, representing eight centuries of

history, bear witness to the rich heritage of Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey.

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1855 CLASSIFICATION: PREMIER GRAND CRU CLASSE

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey has some of the greatest names in Sauternes among its neighbours,

notably Château d'Yquem, and the merits of its own sweet white wine have long been recognized. In

the 1855 classification it was ranked as one of the Premiers Crus Classés.

Professor René Pijassou, in his book, Un Grand Château Viticole du Sauternais, Château Lafaurie-

Peyraguey, explains that, in the 1855 classification, “the famous "list of Bordeaux's red

wines” included four Premier Crus: Château Lafite, Château Latour, Château Margaux and Château

Haut-Brion”.

He continues: “The classification of the white wines of the Gironde listed nine Premiers Crus”

including “Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey in Bommes, owned by the elder Lafaurie,” which was

ranked in second place.

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IMPORTANT FIGURES IN THE HISTORY OF THE PROPERTY AND

ITS WINE

17th century

1618: Sieur Peyraguey

The first known owner was Sieur Raymond Peyraguey, who settled in Bommes in 1618. The

historian Coudroy de Lille calls him a "rural bourgeois", and notes that he was one of the first in the

seventeenth century to try their luck at the "great adventure of wines that, if they were not dessert

wines, at least had a sweet taste".

18th century

1742: Pierre de Pichard, a landowner in Bommes, consolidated the property, and was followed

by his grandson, Nicolas Pierre de Pichard

For René Pijassou, "it is beyond doubt that Pierre Pichard was the creator of the future grand cru,

which for a long time was known as the 'Domaine de Pichard Peyraguey'". Pierre Pichard, Baron of

Saucats, was part of the wealthy landed nobility; he was also a member of the legal profession, in

his capacity as Conseiller du Roy (Adviser to the King) in Bordeaux's Parliament.

In the second half of the 18th century, the owner was President Nicolas Pierre Pichard (Pierre

Pichard's grandson). The first President of the Parliament of Bordeaux, the owner of Château Lafite

in Pauillac and Château Coutet in Barsac, he was a prominent character in the upper echelons of the

Bordeaux legal system. Guillotined in 1794, his property was confiscated and declared a "National

Asset".

1796: Mr. Lafaurie turned the property into a "cru", by investing in the wine's quality.

On 22 June 1796, the Republic put the property up for sale. It was bought by Mr Lafaurie, who lived

in Preignac. René Pijassou reports "the existence of a single block of vines, planted in the 18th

century by the Pichard family".

Under Mr. Lafaurie's influence, the wine's quality and image climbed steadily upwards.

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19th century

1837: Mr. Lafaurie's eldest son ensured the cru's survival with its classification in 1855

On the death of Lafaurie in 1837, his eldest son Pierre Lafaurie inherited the property and made

every effort to improve it, to such an extent that it was ranked as a Sauternes Premier Grand Cru

Classé. The Peyraguey property then become known as Lafaurie-Peyraguey, in a continuation of

the previous name of "Pichard-Peyraguey".

It was at around this time that King Alfonso XII of Spain declared Peyraguey his favourite wine,

buying "a barrel of 1858 Lafaurie-Peyraguey for the amazing price of 6,000 gold francs".

1865: Count Duchâtel

After the 1855 classification, Count Charles Duchâtel, a former minister of foreign affairs under

Louis-Philippe, a member of the Institut and the owner of Château Lagrange, purchased Château

Lafaurie-Peyraguey.

A vigorous investment policy and the lively commercial success enjoyed by the wines of Sauternes

enabled Count Duchâtel to renovate and modernize Lafaurie-Peyraguey. On his death in 1878, his

granddaughter, Charlotte de Tréemoille, inherited Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey under the

guardianship of her father, Duke Louis de Trémoille, Duchâtel's son-in-law.

1879: Farinel and Grédy, two Bordeaux wine merchants survived the vineyard crisis at the end

of the 19th century

In 1879, the estate was sold at auction to Farinel and Grédy, two wine merchants dealing in fine

wines, whose premises were in Bordeaux on the Quais des Chartrons. The invasion of the Bordeaux

vineyards by the phylloxera epidemic in 1880, followed by downy mildew in 1882, and the major

economic crisis that lasted thirty years, inevitably dampened their initial enthusiasm.

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20th century

1917: Désiré Cordier, a wine merchant, became the owner of several Bordeaux Grands Crus,

starting with Lafaurie-Peyraguey

Désiré Cordier, a wine merchant from Lorraine, bought Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey in the

summer of 1917. Between 1917 and 1919, he acquired Château Gruaud-Larose and Château Talbot.

After the war, Cordier set up a wine merchant business in Bordeaux that was responsible for the

exclusive distribution of Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey's wines for more than 80 years. The entire

Cordier group was sold to Suez in 1984.

1984: The Suez group, a vast renovation and modernization project

An ambitious renovation programme was undertaken between 1998 and 2005, starting with the

winery facilities (bringing them into compliance with new regulatory and environmental

requirements, improving temperature and humidity control, etc.) and then the château itself, which

was renovated to be able to receive both professionals and wine enthusiasts, and to hold

conferences related to the group's activities.

21th century

February 2014: Silvio Denz becomes the owner of Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey

Silvio Denz decided to invest in this prestigious Sauternes vineyard at a time when Château

Lafaurie-Peyraguey is among the finest properties in the region, with a well-maintained vineyard,

a modern, high-tech winery, an expert team taking meticulous care of the vines, and a recently

renovated château.

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A VINEYARD WITH AN EXCEPTIONAL TERROIR

Lafaurie-Peyraguey's vineyard is located on the upper part of Sauternes' gravel terroir, 70 metres

above sea level, just next to Château d'Yquem.

The "Enclos" and "Maisons Rouges" plots represent the historic heart of Château Lafaurie-

Peyraguey's magnificent terroir.

Soil and aspect: silica-gravel and clay-gravel; gravel from the Quaternary era was deposited here

more than 600,000 years ago, on a substratum of Aquitania limestone.

- High terrace, south-facing plateau (20%),

- Medium clay slope, west-facing terrace (20%),

- Gravelly hilltops on the upper part of the middle terrace, various aspects from south-east to

north (60%).

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THE VINEYARD AND WINES: CHARACTERISTICS

Area of vines: 36 hectares in production.

Grape varieties: 93% Sémillon, 6% Sauvignon, 1% Muscadelle.

Average age of vines: 40 years (the oldest plots date back to 1926, i.e. 88 years old).

Yield: 18 hl/ha on average.

Cultivation method: Sustainable agriculture, no chemical herbicides.

Harvests: Manual with successive rounds of highly selective picking (4 to 7, depending on the year)

during the ripening period, in order to preserve the desired aromatic precision.

Settling: Static, in temperature-controlled vats at low temperature (15°C) for 12 hours.

Alcoholic fermentation: In fine-grained French oak barrels, with 40 to 70% new oak barrels each

year depending on the vintage. Fermentation at between 17°C and 23°C in the air-conditioned,

humidity-controlled winery, for 18 to 30 days depending on the batch.

Maturing: Traditional, in French oak barrels, with 40 to 70% new oak barrels depending on the

vintage, bungs at the top, for 18 to 20 months.

Average annual production: 60,000 bottles of Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Premier Grand Cru

Classé.

Potential to age: 40 years on average (60 to 100 years in great vintages).

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LAFAURIE PEYRAGUEY, RENOWNED WINES

"The property is certainly eye-catching with the majestic Moorish style of the château and its walls,

but the wine is just as monumental, very rich in residual sugar, very consistent, a perfect

representative of the potential and the style of the upper part of Sauternes. Currently, the 1988 and

1990 are truly splendid: very close to Yquem in their body and their sumptuous flavour." Bettane &

Desseauve – Le Grand Guide des Vins de France 2008

"A superb wine with an opulence close to Yquem. Excellent consistency and remarkable value for

money. Favourite vintages: 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001." La Revue du Vin de France, Special Issue 2003

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2009 Vintage

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: 93/100

“It is laden with luscious honeyed fruit, orange zest and mandarin, minerals and barley sugar. There

is a wonderful viscous texture that remains precise, well-balanced and composed until the very end.

Your cellar is incomplete without a choice selection of the finest Sauternes, which include Lafaurie-

Peyraguey”.

WineSpectator: 93/100

“A more powerful style, with toasted coconut, almond and orange peel notes up front, followed by a

dense core of creamed peach, glazed apricot and ginger, with a date-tinged finish. This should

unwind soon enough while staying on the darker, tropical side of the spectrum.”

René Gabriel: 19/20

“A dark yellow colour, with a first hint of brilliant golden sparkle. A rich, opulent honey bouquet,

developing a fine nose of cooked yellow fruits, mirabelles and apricot jelly, as well as fine botrytis.

The palate is round and full, with a luxuriant exterior, peppery on the inside, with honey re-

emerging, as though freshly extracted from the honeycomb, a powerful minerality in an extremely

long finish. In its prime it could achieve maximum rating.”

Vinum: 19/20

“The 2009 vintage is one of the best that we have ever tasted here: a superbly complex nose, with

flower and mineral notes; an unctuous yet fresh texture, an astounding, racy minerality, coupled

with restrained opulence, delivering an extraordinarily refined and prolonged finish.”

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2010 Vintage

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: 91-93/100

“The Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey has an ebullient nose of Tropicana, dried honey and quince that

intensifies in the glass whilst maintaining impressive definition. The palate is very well-balanced

with superb tension and focus, a Sauternes built of minerality and poise, leading to a citrus, almost

spicy finish that leaves the mouth tingling with pleasure.”

Wine Spectator: 92/100

“A bright, engaging style, with unctuous, high–toned pineapple, white peach, candid citrus peel and

green almond notes, lined with a lightly toasted coconut edge on the finish. Pure.”

James Suckling: 93-94/100

"Beautiful concentration. It's rich and very sweet with intense notes of bitter oranges and honey.

Superb finish that is long and racy with notes of botrytis."

René Gabriel: 20/20

“Dark yellow colour, bright with the first glints of gold. The nose offers an explosion of yellow fruit

on the attack; very mild bouquet with delicate botrytis pepper, notes of gunflint and vanilla, subtly

accompanied by notes of exotic fruit, Brazilian mango and. Complex palate, very full-bodied while

remaining elegant, the superb sweetness is given structure by a delicate, distinguished acidity;

fantastic finish. 2010 belongs to the château's legendary vintages such as the 1917 and 1945.”

Vinum: 19.5/20

“Complex aromas, mineral density, persistent length, an indescribable texture of chalk, freshness,

fire and elegance on the palate. The best that we have ever tasted here, fully deserving 20 points

once bottled.”

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2011 Vintage

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: 92-94/100

“The impressive Lafaurie-Peyraguey has a light but well-defined, almond-scented nose. With

aeration, hints of pineapple begin to emerge with aromas of vanilla and white peach. The palate is

medium-bodied with a very composed, very pure entry and a keen thread of acidity. It shows

admirable weight and botrytisation, with a gorgeous spicy finish that has impressive persistency.”

Wine Spectator: 89-92/100

“Frankly sweet and very direct, with candied green plum and green apple notes, followed by quince

and ginger flavors. Shows the racy side of the vintage.”

James Suckling: 93-94/100

“A dense and rich Sauternes with nutmeg, dried mushroom, sweet apples and honey. Full, very

sweet and long. Very concentrated.”

René Gabriel: 19/20

“Very dark, intense yellow, with rich golden highlights. Delicate bouquet. Bergamot and Earl Grey.

Mirabelles, citrus leaves and mandarin zest. The fragrant botrytis creates a very delicate and richly

facetted nose. Light-footed on the palate, great succulence, here too a profusion of citrus fruits and

minerality, the finish alternates between fresh grapes and sultanas. Close to qualifying as a wine of

the century. Anyone tasting this wine in 20 years will be fighting for a second glass.”

Vinum: 19.5/20

“If you are looking for a great Sauternes, go for a Lafaurie-Peyraguey. The 2011 vintage even

outclasses Yquem! This wine has that unique blend of being polished and distinguished, of offering

freshness and density, that is only found in the very finest fines. Once again, unique and

unparalleled. This is the finest Sauternes of the vintage.”

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SILVIO DENZ'S CHOICE

Silvio Denz has chosen to invest in Sauternes, a region that has always been famed for its exquisite

wines, in the prestigious terroir of one of Sauternes' finest Premiers Grands Crus Classés, at a time

when a marked interest in Sauternes is developing: for example, AXA (Château Suduiraut), Bernard

Arnault (Château d'Yquem), Robert Peugeot, Stephan von Neipperg, Olivier Bernard and Xavier

Planty (Château Guiraud), and Bernard Magrez (Clos Haut-Peyraguey).

The reasons for Silvio Denz's choice:

An exceptional terroir and architectural heritage at an interesting price

For Silvio Denz, Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey is one of the most impressive Premiers Grands Crus

Classés in Sauternes, in terms of its terroir and architectural heritage, and its potential. Château

Lafaurie-Peyraguey has one of the finest terroirs in Sauternes, including the plots known as

"L'Enclos" and "Les Maisons Rouges".

However, the cost of this extremely fine Sauternes Premier Grand Cru Classé terroir is less than half

the average price of Grand Cru terroir in Saint Emilion.

So for Silvio Denz this represents a long-term investment, in terms of terroir, architectural heritage,

and the potential for further improvement in quality.

Silvio Denz's objective: to produce very fine wines from the best terroirs

Silvio Denz would like to produce Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey from the vines of the great historic

1855 terroirs of "L'Enclos" and "Les Maisons Rouges" (16 ha) in order to enhance the quality of

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey's wines even further.

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A desire to diversify with dry white wines

Like Olivier Bernard at the Clos des Lunes, Silvio Denz wishes to explore the potential of Château

Lafaurie-Peyraguey's other terroirs with the production of fine dry white wines.

Commercial synergy

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, producing both sweet and dry white wines, will complement the

range of red wines produced by Vignobles Silvio Denz at its seven properties in Bordeaux, Spain

and Tuscany.

Silvio Denz already sells the wines produced by his two Grands Crus Classés in Saint-Emilion,

Château Péby Faugères and Château Faugères, along with the wines of Château Chambrun in AOC

Lalande de Pomerol and Château Cap de Faugères in AOC Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux (and then

there are the wines from the properties where he is a partner: Château Rocheyron in AOC Saint

Emilion Grand Cru, Clos d'Agon in Spain and Montepeloso in Italy).

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, as a producer of very high-quality sweet white wines and fine dry

white wines, thus offers interesting synergies with Vignobles Silvio Denz's existing range of wines,

particularly in collaboration with the Place de Bordeaux.

Invitation to Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey: a high-quality wine tourism project

Through Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Silvio Denz wishes to contribute to the promotion and operation of

wine tourism in the Sauternes region, which has relatively little capacity to receive visitors.

With 13 bedrooms, the Château is well-suited. Silvio Denz hopes that this project will enable

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey to receive professionals, wine enthusiasts and visitors to the

Sauternes region.

A LALIQUE creation for Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey

Silvio Denz, a lover of both art and wine, has combined his passions with a project to create a

special LALIQUE bottle for Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey. This project continues the work of René

Lalique, who designed a collection of "Yquem" carafes and glasses in 1934, and a "Barsac" collection

in 1939.

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The choice of products that represent a unique expertise

For Silvio Denz, the same philosophy applies to LALIQUE, to the perfumes that he creates, and to his

wines in the Bordeaux region, especially the two Grands Crus Classés in Saint-Emilion, Château

Péby Faugères and Château Faugères, and to the other properties with which he is involved in

Spain and Italy. They all represent an expression of quality in its highest form.

For him, Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, a wine with an international reputation, is an ambassador

for French luxury, the representative of an extraordinarily precise expertise.

Contributing to the reputation of Sauternes Crus Classés as exceptional wines

This investment in Sauternes also represents an opportunity for Silvio Denz to contribute to the

image of the great wines of Sauternes, whether through his actions at the level of Château

Lafaurie-Peyraguey, or in joint action with the Crus Classés of Sauternes.

His desire is to promote the image of the great wines of Sauternes alongside other professionals

and players in the Sauternes wine world. For him, this image deserves increased visibility.

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SILVIO DENZ

A career that began in the perfume industry

Silvio Denz was born on 14 September 1956 in Basel. After business studies and initial activities in

finance, business and marketing in Switzerland and abroad, he developed a large chain of

perfumeries in Switzerland, between 1980 and 2000.

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Since its sale, he has been President of Art & Fragrance S.A., which designs, produces and

distributes international brands of perfumes and cosmetics. Art & Fragrance has also owned

Cristallerie LALIQUE since 2008.

Art, a constant passion

While he maintains a keen interest in architecture and wine, his guiding passion has always been

art, and his collection of works spans several periods. The work of René Lalique has always held a

particular fascination for Silvio Denz, who has been collecting his finest pieces for nearly 20 years,

to create what is without doubt the largest and most comprehensive collection in the world.

Wine: a passion that became a business

A great wine enthusiast, Silvio Denz, founded the Swiss company, Ermitage Holding S.A., in 1999,

owner of "Les Grands Vins Wermuth S.A." in Zurich (which developed the largest auction house for

wines in Switzerland), Casa del Vino, and two wine properties: "Clos d'Agon" in Catalonia and

Montepeloso in Tuscany.

In 2005, Silvio Denz bought Château Péby Faugères (7.50 ha), and Château Faugères (37 ha), both

Grands Crus Classés in Saint Emilion, and Château Cap de Faugères (Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux),

these three properties having been in the Guisez-Esquissaud family since 1823.

In 2007, Silvio Denz acquired Château Chambrun (6.80 ha) in the appellation of Lalande de

Pomerol. And in 2010, with his friend Peter Sisseck, he purchased Château Rocheyron (7.5 ha) a

Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, located in Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes.

February 2014: Silvio Denz is taking his involvement in the vineyards of Bordeaux a step further.

He has chosen to invest in Sauternes, with the acquisition of Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey,

Premier Grand Cru Classé.

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www.vignobles-silvio-denz.com www.lafaurie-peyraguey.com

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