Our People

Pierre-Yves Rigaux

Owner

Pierre-Yves Rigaux, with a background in finance, became CEO of Galena in 2018, a firm specializing in energy investment solutions. In 2021, he founded a commodity trading company focused on Central Asia. Additionally, as a wine enthusiast, he's involved in expanding the business activities of Domaines de l’Émissaire in Central Asia, especially Mongolia.

Maral Batbayar

Owner

Maral Batbayar, the Executive Director of L'Emissaire LLC. Her journey began in September 2023, with a mission to introduce exceptional wines to fresh markets, starting with Mongolian consumers.Motivated by her genuine love for wine and an unwavering dedication to quality, Maral is not only concentrating on satisfying Mongolian demand but also actively pursuing opportunities to extend her influence to neighboring nations.

Denis Chazarain

President

Denis Chazarain, a graduate of Sciences-Po and the Sorbonne, has held various leadership roles in the energy sector. His passion for wine led him to manage several vineyards in Corton Grand Cru and Côte-Rotie. An expert in management and development, Chazarain took on the challenge of revitalizing the properties of Domaines de l’Émissaire. He now presides over Château Larteau, Clos Bel Air, Château Tour Saint-Pierre, and Château Sénilhac, aiming to harness the essence of each property in the Bordeaux winemaking tradition.

David Caillaud

Operational director on the Right Bank

David Caillaud, with roots in the spirits industry and a winemaker father in Charente, was initially destined for the Cognac industry. In 1991, he founded a viticulture and viniculture services company, assisting Gironde vineyards technically. After managing a 43-hectare estate in Blaye from 2003, he became a technical director for a trading house overseeing 250 hectares. Meeting Pierre-Yves Rigaux and Denis Chazarain led to his role as Director of Operations on the Right Bank, focusing on building a reliable, lasting team.

Eric Lagadec

Operational Director on the Left Bank

Eric Lagadec, initially an environmental risk management specialist, shifted his career to the viticulture sector. He worked his way up from ground-level roles to becoming a Chai Master and later pursued service provision in Saint-Emilion. He was appointed as Operations Director at Sénilhac before its 2022 acquisition, facing several management challenges. His belief in the estate's potential has been crucial to its development. Today, his collaboration with oenologists François Despagne and Émilien Delalande contributes to the creation of distinctive and complex wines.