France · Bordeaux

Chateau Pontet-Canet

Château Pontet-Canet has undergone one of the most dramatic quality transformations in modern Bordeaux. A Fifth Growth by the 1855 classification, the estate languished in relative obscurity until the Tesseron family — cognac merchants — acquired it in 1975 and began a relentless quality drive. The pivotal moment came in the 1990s when Alfred Tesseron converted to biodynamic viticulture and introduced horse ploughing across the 81-hectare Pauillac vineyard, becoming the first major Bordeaux estate to farm entirely biodynamically. The results were astonishing: Pontet-Canet was awarded 100 points by Robert Parker for both 2009 and 2010, establishing it as one of Pauillac's elite estates. The style is powerful and concentrated, built on old-vine Cabernet Sauvignon with extraordinary depth and purity of fruit. Amphora fermentation was introduced for a portion of the wine, adding a further dimension of texture. At auction, Pontet-Canet commands prices well above most other Fifth Growths, a reflection of the critical acclaim it has garnered over the past two decades. The estate also produces a second wine, Les Hauts de Pontet-Canet. Biodynamic certification came in 2010, with the estate now considered a benchmark for sustainable viticulture in Bordeaux.