A French real estate investor has paid a record price to acquire Bordeaux vineyard Chateau Carmes Haut-Brion.

Patrice Pichet, head of Bordeaux real estate company Groupe Pichet, bought the estate for €18 million (£15 million) from the previous owners, Didier Chantecaille-Furt and his daughter Penelope, Decanter reports.

The vineyard sits very close to famous namesake Chateau Haut Brion, and with 4.7 hectares of vines, the deal represents the highest price ever paid per hectare in Bordeaux.

Alexander Hall of Bordeaux-based consultancy Vineyard Intelligence told the publication that Mr Pichet may have paid too much if he is buying from a winemaking perspective.

"However, he is a real estate developer and his motivations might not be entirely focused on the winemaking potential of the property," he added.

Interest in Bordeaux real estate was recently sparked by the acquisition of the Chateau Chenu Lafite vineyard, purchased by an unnamed Chinese billionaire in November.