700th Harvest of Château Pape Clément

Bernard Magrez and Alain Ducasse collaborate for a celebration luncheon.

Published on Jun 16, 2006

By Tim Moriarty

Bernard Magrez with celebrated chef Alain Ducasse

In May, Bernard Magrez, the celebrated entrepreneur and owner of 32 vineyards around the world, including several of the finest in France, celebrated the 700^th harvest of Château Pape Clément by collaborating with one of the world's great chefs, Alain Ducasse, for a lunch at Ducasse's eponymous restaurant inNew York City. Eight great wines from Magrez's many properties across France as well as Spain were poured to accompany Ducasse's refined offerings. The wines included a 1961 Château Pape Clément Rouge, which accompanied Ducasse's divine Truffled Brie de Meaux.

In his remarks, Magrez recounted the long history of the chateau, which was founded by Pope Clement V, also a winemaker, in 1305. "It was 32 hectares then and it is 32 hectares now," said Magrez. He also praised Chef Ducasse: "I am very happy to be celebrating with a very exceptional man, the chef with the most stars in the world."

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