Château Pontet-Canet
A pioneering Pauillac Fifth Growth and the first major classified Bordeaux estate to convert fully to certified biodynamic farming.
About Château
Château Pontet-Canet is one of Pauillac's largest and most acclaimed classified estates, ranked a Fifth Growth in 1855. The property was created in 1781 by the de Pontet family, who had assembled its vineyards beginning in 1705. After 110 years under the Cruse merchant family, it was bought in 1975 by Guy Tesseron, a Cognac négociant, and remains owned by the Tesseron family today. Pontet-Canet is most famous as a biodynamic trailblazer: under Alfred Tesseron and former technical director Jean-Michel Comme, it became the first renowned large-scale Bordeaux estate to convert to organic and biodynamic farming, and the first Grand Cru Classé to earn double certification for its entire vineyard. The wines are powerful, expressive and increasingly celebrated, earning some of the highest critical scores in the appellation. Production is unusually large for a classified growth, making the wine relatively accessible.
Flagship wines
- Château Pontet-Canet
- Les Hauts de Pontet-Canet
Editorial notes
The reference point for biodynamic viticulture in classified Bordeaux; relatively large production keeps it more available than many peers. Built to age, but generous enough to enjoy earlier in warm vintages.