Pontet-Canet, Chateau
Summary
Château Pontet-Canet is an 81-hectare Pauillac estate dating to 1725, owned by the Tesseron family since 1975, producing Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wines from deep gravel soils adjacent to Mouton Rothschild at 23-26 meters elevation. The estate pioneered biodynamic viticulture among classified growths, earning Demeter certification in 2010, while maintaining traditional Bordeaux winemaking through 16-20 months aging in French oak and concrete amphorae.
Heritage & Leadership
Château Pontet-Canet's history began in 1725 when Jean-François de Pontet, royal governor of the Médoc, established the estate in Pauillac. The property earned its hyphenated name after de Pontet acquired additional vineyard land in the Canet area. The château maintained consistent ownership through the late 18th century before passing to Herman Cruse in 1865, who held it for over a century. In 1975, Guy Tesseron, of the Tesseron Cognac family, purchased the estate. His son Alfred Tesseron took control in 1994, implementing significant changes in vineyard management. Today, Justine Tesseron works alongside her father Alfred in managing the property.
Vineyards & Wines
The estate encompasses 81 hectares in Pauillac, with vineyards situated on deep gravel soils atop limestone subsoil. The vineyard composition consists of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Vines average 45 years of age, with some parcels exceeding 70 years. The vineyards lie adjacent to Château Mouton Rothschild, occupying prime terroir on the plateau of Pauillac at elevations between 23 and 26 meters above sea level.
Philosophy & Practice
Pontet-Canet received full biodynamic certification from Demeter in 2010, becoming the first classified growth Bordeaux estate to achieve this status. The estate employs horse-drawn plowing in specific parcels to minimize soil compaction. Fermentation occurs in a combination of concrete eggs and wooden vats, with no temperature control during fermentation. The grand vin ages for 16-20 months in 50% new French oak barrels. The estate eliminated chemical inputs in 2004 and maintains detailed documentation of lunar cycles for all vineyard operations. Custom-designed concrete amphorae, manufactured using estate soil, have been used since 2012 for partial aging of the wines.