Albert Frère, the Belgian financier and renowned wine collector, reportedly wants to bid for Taittinger champagne, sold last week to a US property group, and will approach France's Taittinger and Peugeot families for a possible joint offer.

Frère was a major investor in the company before it was sold to Starwood Capital last week in a deal worth €2.86bn ($3.45bn). The sale included the group's champagne, perfume and property assets, but Starwood now wants to sell the champagne interests, preferably to a French buyer.