Judge Orders Angelina Jolie to Produce Unredacted Communications in Château Miraval Dispute

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge issued a significant procedural ruling on December 17, 2025, siding with Brad Pitt in the ongoing legal dispute concerning the French winery, Château Miraval. The court order compels Angelina Jolie to release unredacted versions of specific communications that her legal team had previously withheld, citing claims of legal privilege.

The mandate requires Jolie to submit the documents within 45 days of the order, specifically targeting 22 items listed on her privilege log dated February 14, 2025. Pitt’s representatives contend that these emails are crucial evidence to support their assertion that Jolie acted disingenuously regarding her intentions when she moved to sell her interest in the estate to Tenute del Mondo, the wine division of Stoli Group.

The legal conflict originated from Jolie’s 2021 sale of her 50% share in the Provence estate to Tenute del Mondo, an entity linked to Stoli Group, which is owned by Russian businessman Yuri Shefler. Pitt initiated a lawsuit in 2022, alleging that Jolie breached a prior agreement stipulating that neither party could sell their stake without the other's explicit consent. The former couple acquired the winery in 2011 and married there in 2014; the estate is globally recognized for its acclaimed rosé wines produced in partnership with the Perrin family of Château de Beaucastel.

In response to the December 17 ruling, Jolie’s counsel announced plans to file an appeal, characterizing the decision as an infringement upon her right to a fair trial and another instance of what they term Pitt's persistent harassment. Jolie’s team has consistently denied the existence of any mutual consent agreement governing sales, further arguing that Pitt conditioned any buyout of her share on her signing a non-disclosure agreement concerning alleged past misconduct.

Pitt’s company, Mondo Bongo, which held a majority share before the 50-50 division in 2013, is currently seeking $35 million in damages related to the 2021 transaction. This discovery order represents a procedural advantage for Pitt, who has also secured rulings in other jurisdictions, such as one in Luxembourg restoring his operational control over Miraval pending the final outcome. Despite reports that the former couple finalized their divorce in December 2024, the litigation, which began following the initial 2016 divorce filing, continues, with mediation scheduled for October 28, 2026, and a trial date set for February 1, 2027.