A brief history of Chateau Pontet-Canet 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac, Bordeaux

Jean-François de Pontet was one of the aristocrats and prominent magistrates of Bordeaux, who helped shape the expansive horizons of the new Médoc. After becoming royal governor of the Médoc, in 1705 Jean-François de Pontet brought together a few acres of land to the north of the village of Pauillac and with them created a vineyard. In 1757, he acquired an estate in a small area known as Canet. His successors expanded the château by acquiring adjacent parcels. Pontet-Canet thus became one of the biggest Bordeaux wine producing properties in the entire appellation after the full expansion of the vineyards. Ten years after the official Bordeaux classification of 1855, in which Pontet-Canet was awarded the status of a Fifth Growth, Herman Cruse purchases the estate. Cruse modernized the facilities and built a subterranean wine cellar. However, the wine was not bottled at the estate, and was sold in large quantities without vintage label to the French railways company. The Cruse family lost the château in 1973 due to a wine fraud in which cheap table wine was turned into expensive red Bordeaux by falsifying the records. The ensuing scandal forced them to sell the estate in 1975 to Guy Tesseron, a wine grower and négociant in Cognac, and the owner of Château Lafon-Rochet. In 1994, Guy’s son, Alfred Tesseron took over management of the estate, having worked alongside him for twenty years. In 2015, his daughter, Justine Tesseron, brought new life to the family venture. Her brother, Noé, and her cousins, Mélanie and Philippine, are the other co-owners. The Tesseron family thus maintains ownership of Château Pontet-Canet to this day.

Chateau Pontet-Canet 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac, Bordeaux overview

Situated in the heart of the Pauillac appellation, Château Pontet-Canet's 81 hectares of vineyards are planted primarily with Cabernet Sauvignon, the cornerstone varietal of the region, complemented by Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The estate benefits from the area's rich, gravel-based soils, which are ideal for cultivating vines that produce wines of deep complexity and longevity. Pontet-Canet's commitment to biodynamic farming practices enhances the vineyard's natural balance, encouraging the production of grapes that truly reflect the terroir's unique character. The estate’s eponymous Grand Vin, Pontet-Canet, is Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant and full-bodied. This wine has the status of a classic, routinely garnering high scores and is much sought-after around the world.

Performance

Understanding Chateau Pontet-Canet 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac, Bordeaux

The essence of Château Pontet-Canet's winemaking philosophy is an unwavering commitment to expressing the purest form of its terroir, achieved through meticulous vineyard management and minimal intervention in the winery. The estate's transition to biodynamic practices is a testament to this philosophy, focusing on the health of the vineyard ecosystem to produce grapes of the highest quality. In the cellar, innovation meets tradition with the use of temperature-controlled vats with each plot vinified individually. The wine ages in two-thirds new oak for 16 to 20 months. This careful balance of techniques ensures that each vintage of Pontet-Canet offers a unique expression of its place and time. Château Pontet-Canet displays dark fruit and hints of earth and spice in a refined palate with elegant tannins. This Grand Vin possesses a remarkable capacity for ageing.

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