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Angelina Jolie Wins Latest Round Against Brad Pitt in Legal Fight Over Château Miraval

Against protests, Pitt's businesses must share cache of documents with Jolie's lawyers.
Angelina Jolie and nbspBrad Pitt on November 14 2009 in Los Angeles California.
Angelina Jolie and  Brad Pitt on November 14, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.By Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images

It's the end of the latest battle in the War of the RosesRosé. 

A Los Angeles judge has denied Brad Pitt's team's request to refuse sharing business documents and correspondence with Angelina Jolie's lawyers. It's another round in a lingering fight from the former power couple's never-ending divorce and ownership of the Château Miraval winery.

The pair took control of the company, best known for its rosé when they moved into the main villa in 2008. Located in Correns, France, about one hour east of Aix-en-Provence, the two were married there in 2014. 

After their split, Jolie entered an agreement to sell her stake to a group called Tenute del Mondo, which Pitt tried to halt. He claimed that the sale was made in violation of an agreement that neither party would sell without the other’s agreement. Tenute del Mondo is owned by parent company Stoli, technically based in Luxembourg, but, as per legal documents issued by Pitt, “controlled by Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler.” Pitt’s lawsuit says he was owed first right of refusal. 

But Jolie’s legal team has countered, and, reported Saturday by PageSix, has won a most recent round, subpoenaing business documents that his company has been hesitant to share. 

PageSix quotes insiders on both sides, one suggesting that Pitt’s fury at Jolie is blinding him from a solid business deal, the other saying that all Pitt wants to do is retain what he thinks in a smart business venture for their six children. 

Pitt and Jolie officially bought Château Miraval in 2012 for $60 million. (They had a long-term lease in 2008.) Neighbors at the time included David and Victoria Beckham and Johnny Depp. The 1,200-acre estate sits along an ancient Roman road and some of the structures date back to the 17th century. In addition to its vineyards, it contained olive groves, pine forests, a private lake, some fountains, and a moat. The Hollywood power couple made some modernizations, like adding a helicopter pad. 

Before Brangelina moved in, though, more was going on than just squashing grapes. Musician Jacques Loussier owned the property beginning in the 1970s, and built a recording studio where some all-time classics were recorded. Among them were The Wall by Pink Floyd, Sade’s “Sweetest Taboo,” and “Heatseeker” by AC/DC. There were also sessions by Elton John, Sting, Bryan Ferry, Shirley Bassey, Courtney Love, Belinda Carlisle, Morrissey, Steve Winwood, Queen, Wham!, Muse, the Gipsy Kings, the Cranberries, Rammstein, the Cure, Judas Priest, Yes, and a lot more. (As a result of all this, one of the winery’s current key brands is called Studio.) 

If that doesn’t blow your mind, it is believed that Saint Thomas Aquinas visited Miraval in 1252. No one put on a wilder show than that guy. 

Though the studio has been dormant for years, Pitt and Damien Quintard announced they were reopening for business in December of last year, and will be unaffected by whomever ultimately takes control of the winery.