Château Pontet-Canet Collection

The Pioneer of Modern Bordeaux Precision Located in the heart of the Pauillac appellation directly opposite Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Pontet-Canet is one of the most dynamic and universally admired estates in the Médoc. Classified as a Cinquième Cru (Fifth Growth) in the official 1855 Bordeaux Classification, the property was originally founded in the early 18th century by Jean-François de Pontet. Acquired in 1975 by Guy Tesseron, a respected cognac merchant, the estate today is led by Alfred Tesseron and his family.

Under Alfred Tesseron and long-time estate director Jean-Michel Comme, Pontet-Canet underwent a radical transformation. In 2010, it became the very first major Grand Cru Classé estate in the Médoc to achieve official biodynamic certification (Demeter). Outperforming its 1855 classification, Pontet-Canet is now widely recognized as a "Super Second" that consistently rivals the First Growths in quality and critical praise.

Gravel Plateaus, Horse Power & Amphora Innovations Spanning 81 hectares in a single continuous block, Pontet-Canet sits on deep, well-drained quaternary gravel beds overlying a limestone base. The vineyard practices embody radical environmental harmony:

• Cabernet Sauvignon (~62%): Planted on the highest, leanest gravel crests, supplying powerful structure, cassis intensity, graphitic minerality, and immense longevity.

• Merlot (~32%): Grown on lower-lying gravel and clay soils, contributing dark plum fruit, lush texture, and velvety mid-palate richness.

• Cabernet Franc (~4%) & Petit Verdot (~2%): Adds delicate floral nuances, fresh acidity, and subtle spice notes.

The estate has famously eliminated heavy machinery in the vineyard, utilizing workhorses to plow the soils and prevent compaction. In the cellar, Pontet-Canet relies on gravity-fed concrete vats and ages a significant portion of the harvest in custom-built concrete amphorae (made using a mix of local soil and gravel from the vineyard) Alongside traditional oak barrels. This unique process yields a wine of exceptional purity, tension, and unadulterated terroir expression.

The World-Class Wine Portfolio

• Château Pontet-Canet (Grand Vin - Cinquième Cru Classé): A tour de force of balance, power, and mineral purity. Explosive on the nose with aromas of crushed blackcurrants, wild blackberries, violet blossoms, graphite, wet stone, and subtle dark cocoa. On the palate, it delivers a precise, chiseled texture with seamless, fine-grained tannins that age gracefully over 20 to 50+ years.

• Haut-Médoc de Pontet-Canet / Les Hauts de Pontet-Canet: The secondary expression of the estate, produced from younger vines and crafted with the same biodynamic philosophy and meticulous care as the Grand Vin. Fruit-forward, supple, and charming, it offers vibrant black fruit, fresh herbs, and accessible structure for earlier drinking over a 10 to 20-year window.

Epicurean Food Pairings

• Château Pontet-Canet Grand Vin: Herb-crusted rack of lamb, roasted venison loin with juniper berries, slow-braised short ribs, roasted prime rib, pan-seared squab, or wild mushroom tart with shaved black truffles.

• Les Hauts de Pontet-Canet: Grilled ribeye steak, roasted duck breast, braised lamb shanks, pork tenderloin with blackberry reduction, or mature hard cheeses like Gouda and aged Comté.