Chateau Lascombes, a Second Growth in Margaux, has been bought by French health insurance group MACSF for €200 million (£176 million).

The 400-year-old Bordeaux property, which spans 118 hectares, produces around 550,000 bottles per year and was formerly owned by US-based private equity group Colony Capital.

MACSF was not the only bidder who wanted to snap up Chateau Lascombes, with the Financial Times reporting that an Asian buyer expressed an interest in the property.

The former owners, however, were keen to see it go back to French hands who will continue investing in the quality of its wine.

"We have enormous respect for all the work and investment that has been put into Lascombes, which has returned it to its Second Growth status," chief executive officer of MACSF Marcel Kahn told Decanter.

He added: "We are an entirely French company, and are happy to have invested in a piece of French heritage."