Last week, the father of the Lafragette family, Jean Paul Lafragette (Chateau Loudenne, Chateau de Rouillac, the Alize cocktail) was found guilty of fraud and imprisoned. He was first remanded in custody for two days in Bordeaux, but has now been moved on a more permanent basis up to Angouleme jail.
Full story:
http://www.decanter.com/news/262731.html
The threat of imprisonment has been hanging over him now for at least a year - but the bigger story in Bordeaux itself is what happens now to his family. His two daughters, particularly Florence Lafragette, is well known in the region and beyond. Young and pretty, she hosts a regional TV programme bringing the nuances of Bordeaux to the masses, and is a member of the Bordeaux Oxygene group of young winemakers (who I have written about on several occasions here).
This must be devastating for her - and I heard today from a friend who works with the family that she has left Bordeaux, moved up to Paris, and accepted a job in the cosmetics industry.
Chateau de Rouillac has already been sold (to a French family, but no deatils as to who yet), and Chateau Loudenne is apparently on the market.
A pretty horrible (end? chapter?) to what has been a very successful Bordeaux family.
