Chateau Grand Pontet St. Emilion Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Learn everything about Chateau Grand Pontet St. Emilion with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairings. Learn about the best vintages, the history of the property, the vineyards, and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Grand Pontet was purchased by the Becot family in 1980 from the Barton and Guestier families. If the Becot family name sounds familiar that is because they also own the well-known Right Bank estate, Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot, as well as La Gomerie in St. Emilion and Joanin Becot in Cotes de Castillon.

If the Barton name also rings a bell, it is because they own Chateau Leoville Barton, which is located in one of the other saints, St. Julien, as well as Chateau Langoa Barton.

The Becot family purchased Chateau Grand Pontet because it’s on good terroir that is located not too far from their other vineyards. Sylvie Pourquet, the sister of Gerard Becot and Dominique Becot managed Chateau Grand Pontet until the middle of 2021. In July 2021, it was announced that the owners of Chateau Haut Brion purchased Grand Pontet. This is their second vineyard in St. Emilion as they already own Chateau Quintus.

Chateau Grand Pontet Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 19-hectare vineyard of Chateau Grand Pontet is planted to 70% Merlot, 17.5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Located right off the main road that runs in and out of the Saint Emilion village, the vineyard is planted in 1 large block of vines. The terroir is thin clay and sand over limestone soils.

The vines are planted to a density that runs from 5,500 to 8,000 vines per hectare. The vines are old averaging close to 40 years of age.

They have good neighbors here. They are not far from Chateau Canon, Beau-Sejour Becot or Clos Fourtet. Their best terroir is placed close to the chateau, on a clay and limestone slope that rises up to 55 meters at its peak.

To produce the wine of Chateau Grand Pontet, vinification of Chateau Grand Pontet takes place in small, temperature-controlled, stainless steel vats that range in size. The smallest vat is 27 hectoliters. The tanks increase in size from that point up to 100 hectoliter tanks. Malolactic fermentation takes place in a combination of barrel and tank.

The wine of Chateau Grand Pontet is aged in 80% new, French oak barrels for between 12 to 18 months. The amount of age and percentage of new oak varies, depending on the vintage conditions and characteristics.

The best vintages of Chateau Grand Pontet are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2010, 2009 and 2005.

On average, close to 8,000 cases of Chateau Grand Pontet wine are produced each vintage. There is a second wine, Dauphin de Grand Pontet.

When to Drink Chateau Grand Pontet, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Grand Pontet can be enjoyed on the young side. The wine is usually better with just a few years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage.

Grand Pontet is usually best enjoyed in the first 10-15 years of life. Young vintages of Chateau Grand Pontet can be decanted for up to 1 hour. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Serving Chateau Grand Pontet with Wine and Food Pairings

Chateau Grand Pontet is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Chateau Grand Pontet is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Grand Pontet is also good when matched with Asian dishes, rich fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.