(Decanter) - Property magnate Jacky Lorenzetti has beaten at least one First Growth in a fierce bidding war for Pauillac estate Chateau Béheré, whose vineyards lie next door to Chateau Mouton-Rothschild.

Lorenzetti (pictured), owner of Chateau Lilian Ladouys in Saint Estephe and Chateau Pédesclaux in Pauillac, recently bought a 50% stake in Chateau d’Issan in AOC Margaux.

Chateau Béheré is a small ‘cru artisan’ Pauillac estates with just over 4.7 hectares of vines, making around 33,000 bottles per year.

It is next door to Chateau Mouton Rothschild, and all its plots of vines are surrounded by prestigious classified properties.

Decanter.com understands it has been at the centre of a fierce bidding war from several top Pauillac estates over the past few years, including at least one First Growth.

‘At that price, it was only really viable for a cru classé,’ vineyard expert Alexander Hall told Decanter.com, citing the likely price per hectare of around €1.4m.