Location and Terroir
Château Pontet-Canet is located in the municipality of Pauillac in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, looking out over the Gironde. The central vineyard extends over a gently rising plateau of Garonne gravel from the Günz period above limestone. Further plots near the village of Pouyalet have more calcareous soils; in part, limestone and clay lie at the surface there.
Vineyard and Farming
The vineyard comprises 81 hectares with around 100 plots and 800,000 vines. The planting density is about 9,500 vines per hectare, with an average vine age of around 50 years. The vine areas are planted with approximately 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.
The estate is certified organic by Ecocert as well as biodynamic by Biodyvin and Demeter. The conversion to biodynamic farming began in 2004 and was completed in 2005; the wines received the corresponding certifications in 2010. Practices include shallow cultivation of the soil, Médoc pruning in Double Guyot and hand harvesting in small crates. Since 2008, Percheron horses have also been working in the rows of vines.
Cellar and Maturation
The grapes are sorted and destemmed by hand. Alcoholic fermentation takes place with natural yeasts, followed by an approximately four-week maceration period with gentle punching down and biological acid breakdown in tanks. Since 2017, the grapes have been sorted and destemmed individually over the tanks and then passed on by gravity.
For vinification, wooden and concrete tanks and amphorae are available. The amphora room built in 2017 is designed for operation without electricity. Maturation lasts 16 to 18 months and takes place at around 50% in new oak barrels, 35% in concrete amphorae and 15% in used oak barrels.
History and Classification
Jean-François de Pontet assembled ownership of vineyards in Pauillac from 1705 and acquired the estate of Canet in 1757. The name Château Pontet-Canet was established in 1781. In 1865 the estate went to Henri Herman Cruse and in 1975 to Guy Tesseron; Alfred Tesseron took over the management in 1994. Château Pontet-Canet is classified as a Grand Cru Classé in 1855 and listed as the Cinquième Cru of Pauillac.
