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.


Chateau Mouton Rothschild the Labels History and Museum


One of the most interesting visit in Bordeaux is the visit at Chateau Mouton Rothschild. This one is unique in the sense of it is the only one that offer a collection of piece of art from some of the most famous artists in the last century : Miro, Chagall, Braque, Dali, Bacon, Koons,
even SAR Prince Charles did one for them.

Under the influence of baron Philippe de Rothschild, in 1945 to celebrate the victory on the Nazi, he decided to request the French artist Philippe Jullian to design the famous label showing the "V" for Victory.

Since, every year, a new artwork from a  famous painter, drawer or sculptor will complete the collection.
Some years and labels are more remarkables than other ones.

A label forbidden in US
Vintage 1993 by Balthus, showing a draw of a naked young girl. This label was ban in US because of puritan and was not printed on the bottles for this market. It shows a blank label with no draw on it so, if you have it in your cellar, keep it, it's a piece of collection.

Why 2000 as no label ?
Vintage 2000, no artist ! The bottle itself becomes the piece of art. It show a golden ram on it, from a reproduction of sculpture of Jacob Schenauer 1590.

Why the Picasso one is so big ?
Vintage 1973, Picasso. If you look on the size of the label you could see that the artwork is bigger than all the other ones. In fact the painting was not designed especially for the bottle and it is a reproduction of a painting made by Picasso in 1959.
Picasso died in 1973 that is why in order to celebrate his memory, the Rothchild ask if they could use one of its work and use it for the label of the vintage.

If you come to Bordeaux for a wine tours, ask us to book a tour for you at Chateau Mouton Rothschild. You will have the privilege to taste their wine and also visit this unique treasure located in the middle of the Medoc.


Visit & Wine Tasting at Chateau Lafite Rothschild

The Chateau Lafite Rothschild is one of the top 5 first growth (Premier Cru) classified in Bordeaux in 1855 as Latour, Margaux and Haut Brion. This chateau is certainely the most renown and famous one since few centuries. Thomas Jefferson himself, staid few nights at the chateau when he came in 1787 to visit the famous vineyards of the Médoc region.

I had the chance to visit the Chateaux few times already and it is always a pleasure to bring some guests there. The Chateau Lafite organize <b>visit and wine tasting by appointment only</b> and depending on their availabilities but if you are lucky and if you book long time ahead you could have the chance to be welcome for a wine tasting.



The Chateau is located in <b>Pauillac appellation</b>, northen part of the Medoc just between St Julien and St Estephe.<br />
The name comes from an old French word "La hite" which means the litle hill.<br />
The vineyard has 114 hectares and the chateau produces app. 500 000 bottles a year for half part dedicated to the first wine and the other half to the second label (Les Carruades de Lafite).

The blend is 70% cabernet sauvignon + 25% merlot + 3% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.
The avarage age of the vineyard is 40yo with some older plots of 80yo.

The wine will aged for 17-20 month in 100% brand new oak barrels. The barrels are all manufactured by their own cooperage and they produce app. 2000 per year.

The legendary vintages are 1945, 1947, 1982, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2010. The potential of aging of this wine is exceptional with a minimum of 15 years for  a classical vintage up to 50years and plus for top quality vintages. If you visit the chateau they will explain to you that they still have some bottles of 1797 and they taste regularly old vintages (60-70 yo) still very drinkable.

The tasting will take place is the magnificient barrel cellar design by Ricardo Bofill in 1987.
To come for a visit, you will have more chance during the low season from November to March. The chateau is closed the week, during the Primeur week (April) and from August to October.