Chateau Pontet Canet

Located in Pauillac, just in front of Chateau Mouton Rothschild, chateau Pontet Canet is the leader among the Grands Crus Classes in terms of biodynamic. The conversion started in 2004 on part of 14 hectares. Under the influence of the technical director Jean Michel Comes who has in own vineyard run in biodynamic, he convince the owner Alfred Tesseron to try it at Pontet Canet.

After few years of test, it was decided to convert the 80 hectares in biodynamic agriculture. It was a real challenge and more than a technic it was a new philosophy for the Chateaux.

The biodynamic needs to understand better the vines, their devlopment and the diseases as the use of chemicals is not allowed. We can compare this to a Chinese medecine and anticipation of the problems. To run the vineyard they follow the moon calendar, they use natural extract of plants to spray on the vines. The idea is to be more respectful of the land, the terroir and the vines. 

A good example to explain and understand this, they started also to use horses instead of tractors (too heavy they compact the soil and damage the roots). Actually the chateau is using 5 horses, wich is far away not enough for the 80 hectares of vineyard and is builiding a brand new traditional construction in order to be able to accommodate 15 of them. 

Donkeys, chicken, sheap are also part of this very unique team ! 

Finaly, the vines are not trimed and there is no green harvest either done, the vines control themself their devlopment and yeild. The wine will age for a big part in the traditional oak barrels but also in very particular amphoras where the wine stay in a vortex movment all time long. 

The result is a wine very fruty with a light structure but still a long potential of aging. The ripe and generous nose combines very pure notes of blackcurrant, violet, rose and liquorice. Wonderful internal harmony creates a symphonic red which associates shimmering substance, exquisite freshness, noble tannins and radiant fruit. 

Come and visit this unique Chateau. The visit will start with a ride on a golf-car in the vineyard, will continue with the technical installation and finish with a glass of wine.


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