Childless and anxious to protect the future of Château d’Yquem, Bertrand de Lur-Saluces took measures in anticipation of his demise. In 1966, he designated one of his brother Amédée’s sons, Alexandre de Lur-Saluces, to take over managing the estate.

The young count did not have an easy time at first. He had to deal with a series of bad vintages, a profound crisis in the Bordeaux wine trade, and an impressively high inheritance tax that threatened d’Yquem’s survival. The estate was saved thanks to rigorous management and the excellent 1975 vintage, on the heels of three disastrous ones. Several fine vintages during the 1980s made it possible to put things back on an even keel and make new investments. Production slowly increased over fifteen years, as did quality and technical expertise. At the end of the 20th century, thanks to the impetus of Bernard Arnault, Château d’Yquem – a veritable monument, and among the greatest wines of France – was acquired by LVMH Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton. This marked a new chapter in the château’s history.
Since then, he has continued to promote the estate’s authenticity, its openness to modernity, and the expertise of the winemaking team