Château Jean Faure: Michel Amart
Marcel Loubat died between 1941 and 1943, and once again it was up to the widow to take control. This situation lasted barely a few years, however, as in 1946 both Château Jean Faure and Château Ripeau came into the hands of his granddaughter Suzanne and her husband Michel de Wilde (died 1976). They had a daughter Ghislaine, who married Michel Amart, and in 1975 this couple took control of Château Jean Faure (while the direction of Château Ripeau passed to another family member). Michel Amart’s presence turned out to be very beneficial for the domaine, significant achievements being made under his tenure, including the appointment of Michel Rolland as consultant oenologist. Michel and Ghislaine had big ambitions for Château Jean Faure, but it seems they were unable to realise their dreams.
Declassification
At the time Michel and Ghislaine took over the administration of Château Jean Faure in 1976, it had for some time been ranked as grand cru classé in the St Emilion classification. According to Bernard Ginestet, writing in St Emilion (Jacques Legrand SA, 1988), it was Michel’s intention to seek promotion to the rank of premier grand cru classé, but it was not to be. In 1985 the classification was drawn up anew, and Château Jean Faure was not promoted; in fact it was demoted, ejected from the rank of grand cru classé to join the many châteaux with no place in the classification at all. The committee drawing up the new classification were damning in their findings and judgement, their reasons for the demotion, as described by Ginestet, being as follows:
“Notorious deficiencies in the running of your cru’s estate, principally as regards oenology. This opinion has been entirely justified by the tasting of different vintages provided in support of your demand. They are not of a corresponding quality to that of a grand cru classé”.
