A month in wine
Albert Frère and Henry-Frédéric Roch remembered
AlbERT FRèRE, ThE billionaire belgian businessman who became co-owner of Château Cheval blanc, has died aged 92. his death was announced on 3 December by Groupe bruxelles lambert (Gbl). he was honorary chairman and co-controlling shareholder of the firm.
‘his professional and human qualities have deeply marked our group,’ commented Gbl in its statement.
In the wine world, Frère was best known as the co-owner of Château Cheval blanc, alongside bernard Arnault, CEO and chairman of lVMh. The two businessmen acquired Cheval blanc in 1998. No fee was disclosed at the time; however, French newspaper Le Figaro reported in 2012 that the deal was worth around �150 million. In 2008, the pair bought another St-Émilion estate, Château Quinault, from Dr Alain Raynaud.
‘Albert Frère was a great man with a wine-grower’s vision,’ commented Pierre lurton, the director of Château Cheval blanc and d’Yquem, in his tribute to Frère.
‘he often came to Cheval blanc for the harvest and throughout the year. he was also a driving force behind the development of a white wine at Cheval blanc.’
beyond bordeaux wine, Frère had built a strong reputation as a canny investor and his deals shaped the future of some of Europe’s largest corporations.
he left school at 17 years old, after the death of his father, and ran the family nail merchant business. his later investments in the steel industry and financial sectors considerably expanded his wealth and influence. Forbes magazine valued his net worth at $6.2 billion in June 2018.