Château Pontet-Canet

I sincerely want to thank Château Pontet-Canet for our wonderful visit on the 18th of September. It was an once in a lifetime experience! Our visit started with a lovely tour through the vineyard on a golf car with the best guide ever,“Violenna”. She was absolutely amazing! We continued with her with the winery tour which was sooo interesting! Biodynamic means of cultivation and winemaking where presented to us and got explained! Finally we ended with the tasting! The taste of “Chateau Pontet-Canet” will stay in my memory for a long long time!! We were totally amazed! Thank you so much! As you can imagine I recommend the visit it’s a must!

Visit was amazing. Same time as Jeb Dunnuck - great minds think alike 😅 We love Pontet-Canet. Wine is firmly in top 3 Bordeaux wines together with Montrose and Cos d’Estournel. Visit itself was amazing - Violaine was very knowledgable, super friendly and passionate about what she does. Visit was a highlight of the 8 day wine tasting and Châteaux visiting trip.

Château Pontet-Canet , situated next to Mouton Rothschild, is a winery in the Pauillac appellation of the Bordeaux wine region of France with the Grand Vin being classified as one of eighteen Cinquièmes Crus (Fifth Growths) in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. The current estate management is headed by Alfred Tesseron ( since 1994) who is helped by the director, Jean-Michel Comme ( left in May 2020) . The estate took the first part of its name from a former owner, Jean-François de Pontet , who was also the royal governor of the Medoc . The second part of its name was from a famous section in the estate from the Canet area. After theBordeaux negociants Herman Cruse purchased the estate in 1865 (The Cruse family owned the estate for 110 years ), another negociant, Guy Tesseron, acquired Pontet Canet in 1975. Chateau Pontet Canet is not only a Fifth Growth, but they are producing wines at the level of the best Second Growths and even in some vintages, as good as the Firsts. In 2010, the estate ( the first major Bordeaux wine producer ) has earned the official Agence Bio (AB) organic certification. In general , the yields at Pontet Canet are less than 35 hectoliters per hectare in most of the vintages. The 81-hectare estate is planted to 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Currently, the estate uses horses to plow 34 hectares out of the vineyards 81 hectares of vines with the plan that the majority of the estate will be plowed by horses. The original vat house was constructed in the 1800s . However, the facilities at the estate were completely renovated in 2005. For the aging of Pontet Canet, instead of the traditional combination of new and one-year-old, French oak barrels, Alfred Tesseron and the technical director, Jean-Michel Comme are aging up to 25% of the harvest in 900-liter amphorae jars (thought that add more minerality to the wines, along with additional soft textures, and of course less of an oak influence) along with an average of 50% new French oak barrels. Pontet Canet produces average 25,000 cases per year. There is a second wine, Les Hauts de Pontet ( since 1982) . Due to the high levels of tannins and intense concentration , Chateau Pontet Canet is not at its best in its youth, even with several hours of decanting. The wine is usually better at 10-12-15 years of aging with the best vintages can be aged to 15-45 years . Starting with the 2017 vintage, all the grapes are now destemmed by hand and the whole estate is 100% biodynamic! A wonderful Château to visit !

Visited in May 2016 without reservation: recommended by the nearby Château Lynch-Bages, we crashed a small tour in French and explored the whole estate, fromthe vineyard to the machinery and the cellar. At the end of the tour we were offered a taste of the final product, from bottles worth at least 80-100 euro. It's a smaller (although very impressive) family-owned château and their method is biodynamic, meaning the wine is not just organic but nature has been encouraged to work for it (like bees for pollination, lunar calendar, etc). I could not recommended it enough.

Absolutely amazing and inspiring visit. Appointments only for professionals. Biodynamic and organic viticulture practices. Old vines.

One of the most unforgettable, biodynamic Wines in Europe. The estate and those who staff it are also incredible. Justine is a wonderful host.

If you make an appointment in advance, you'll be able to get a tour in English to check out Pontet Canet. Chateau Pontet Canet is classified as part of Fifth Growth in the Bordeaux Wine Classification of 1855 (Pauillac's appellation), but Pontet Canet is at times better than the other wineries that's classified first, second, or third. Today's tour (Sept 2014) included a tasting of their 2007's vintage and a view around their vineyard, VAT, Cellar, and tasting room. The best part is that the tour goes in depth about the history and their operational point of view of Pontet Canet. Plus, the tour and tasting is free! Pontet Canet also invented (patent pending) on their new VAT, which reminds of Big Hero 6 from Disney! Pontet Canet's wine is a bit pricey and there's a reason why....certified organic and biodynamic! Overall, Pontet Canet is a must stop to check out how the wineries are changing their ways back to biodynamic with a lighter touch to the vines. Perhaps it's because of Pontet Canet's drive is the reason why they recently lost their AOC status for their second label. Or perhaps, it's wine politic? Who knows and it's quite unfortunate! Regardless of status, I was thoroughly impressed by their passion, keep up the good work Pontet Canet!

As always. One of our favourite Châteaux in Pauillac

If you make an appointment in advance, you'll be able to get a tour in English to check out Pontet Canet. Chateau Pontet Canet is classified as part of Fifth Growth in the Bordeaux Wine Classification of 1855 (Pauillac's appellation), but Pontet Canet is at times better than the other wineries that's classified first, second, or third. Today's tour (Sept 2014) included a tasting of their 2007's vintage and a view around their vineyard, VAT, Cellar, and tasting room. The best part is that the tour goes in depth about the history and their operational point of view of Pontet Canet. Plus, the tour and tasting is free! Pontet Canet also invented (patent pending) on their new VAT, which reminds of Big Hero 6 from Disney! Pontet Canet's wine is a bit pricey and there's a reason why....certified organic and biodynamic! Overall, Pontet Canet is a must stop to check out how the wineries are changing their ways back to biodynamic with a lighter touch to the vines. Perhaps it's because of Pontet Canet's drive is the reason why they recently lost their AOC status for their second label. Or perhaps, it's wine politic? Who knows and it's quite unfortunate! Regardless of status, I was thoroughly impressed by their passion, keep up the good work Pontet Canet!

Really great tour and really great wine. 5eme 1855 cru but one that has dared to change. They are completely biodynamic and innovating in all areas. You will know their 2005 which got a near perfect Parker mark. This was the second year they started their organic process. Their 2007 is nice which was the first big challenge to the process. Good tour, great wine. they have a loyal customer.