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: 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.

Château Grand-Pontet Wine Tasting Notes

14 Vintages 66,578 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2020
90
Medium-bodied, with notes of wet earth, espresso, licorice, dark red berries and cocoa on the nose. Soft, round, lush and polished, the wine is forward, fruity and a bit oaky at the moment. Give it a few years to come together and it will be an even better wine. 89-91 Pts

Medium-bodied, with notes of wet earth, espresso, licorice, dark red berries and cocoa on the nose. Soft, round, lush and polished, the wine is forward, fruity and a bit oaky at the moment. Give it a few years to come together and it will be an even better wine. 89-91 Pts

1,910 Views   Tasted
2019
90
Espresso, smoke, licorice and ripe dark red berries galore here. Medium-bodied, round, soft and juicy. This is best Grand Pontet ever produced! 89-91 Pts

Espresso, smoke, licorice and ripe dark red berries galore here. Medium-bodied, round, soft and juicy. This is best Grand Pontet ever produced! 89-91 Pts

2,786 Views   Tasted
2018
90
Round, lush, soft, forward and fruity, with ample cocoa, licorice, dark cherries, spice and chocolate, this is already nice to drink and will only get better with a few years of aging.

Round, lush, soft, forward and fruity, with ample cocoa, licorice, dark cherries, spice and chocolate, this is already nice to drink and will only get better with a few years of aging.

1,213 Views   Tasted
Medium-bodied, juicy and already showing its dark cherry and espresso bean profile, the wine is round and fruity. With just a few years of age, it will be perfect for consumption. 89-91 Pts

Medium-bodied, juicy and already showing its dark cherry and espresso bean profile, the wine is round and fruity. With just a few years of age, it will be perfect for consumption. 89-91 Pts

2,459 Views   Tasted
2017
90
Flowers, earth, thyme and coffee bean form the character here. On the palate the wine is round, soft and polished, leaving you with a sweet, juicy, fruity finish.

Flowers, earth, thyme and coffee bean form the character here. On the palate the wine is round, soft and polished, leaving you with a sweet, juicy, fruity finish.

2,001 Views   Tasted
2016
90
Medium bodied with wet earth, smoke, licorice, espresso and red fruits, the wine is sweet fresh, round and even shows minereality in the finish. Give it a few years of age.

Medium bodied with wet earth, smoke, licorice, espresso and red fruits, the wine is sweet fresh, round and even shows minereality in the finish. Give it a few years of age.

2,455 Views   Tasted
Medium bodied with ripe, fresh red fruits, spice, earth and a finish of juicy cherries and stone.

Medium bodied with ripe, fresh red fruits, spice, earth and a finish of juicy cherries and stone.

3,286 Views   Tasted
2015
92
This is the best vintage ever produced at Grand Pontet. The fruits are ripe, round and forward. There is sweetness, length and depth, with silky qualities in the finish. You can drink this young, or age it for a few years.

This is the best vintage ever produced at Grand Pontet. The fruits are ripe, round and forward. There is sweetness, length and depth, with silky qualities in the finish. You can drink this young, or age it for a few years.

4,757 Views   Tasted
The best vintage ever from Grand Pontet, the wine is open and already shows its round, lush, soft, ripe, plums, licorice and cocoa character with quite easily.

The best vintage ever from Grand Pontet, the wine is open and already shows its round, lush, soft, ripe, plums, licorice and cocoa character with quite easily.

4,668 Views   Tasted
Forward in style, the wine is lush, round and soft, with juicy, sweet, black cherries, espresso and dark chocolate. The wine is already easy and fun to taste.

Forward in style, the wine is lush, round and soft, with juicy, sweet, black cherries, espresso and dark chocolate. The wine is already easy and fun to taste.

5,254 Views   Tasted
Loads of dark chocolate, ripe, juicy plums, cherry and floral notes, this wine is polished with silky textures and a sweet, fruit-filled finish.

Loads of dark chocolate, ripe, juicy plums, cherry and floral notes, this wine is polished with silky textures and a sweet, fruit-filled finish.

2,739 Views   Tasted
2014
88
Licorice and black raspberries with a stone and black cherry center and a slightly drying finish. 87-89 Pts

Licorice and black raspberries with a stone and black cherry center and a slightly drying finish. 87-89 Pts

3,536 Views   Tasted
2013
86
Light, open and lacking in volume, this plummy wine will be best in its youth. 85-87 Pts

Light, open and lacking in volume, this plummy wine will be best in its youth. 85-87 Pts

1,661 Views   Tasted
2012
89
Easy drinking charmer, with soft textures, sweet, fresh, soft, cherries, earth, floral and licorice overtones.

Easy drinking charmer, with soft textures, sweet, fresh, soft, cherries, earth, floral and licorice overtones.

3,091 Views   Tasted
Firm tannins, spicy red fruit, anise, espresso and earth on the nose, makes this slightly more interesting in the perfume, than on the palate.

Firm tannins, spicy red fruit, anise, espresso and earth on the nose, makes this slightly more interesting in the perfume, than on the palate.

3,202 Views   Tasted
2011
86
With its oak and cherry character, medium body and light style, this slightly tart wine needs to be consumed young.

With its oak and cherry character, medium body and light style, this slightly tart wine needs to be consumed young.

3,153 Views   Tasted
2010
89
Deep in color, the wine offer ripe notes of licorice, blackberry, cherry, wet earth and coffee bean. Soft in texture and already approachable, this should turn out nice with a few years of age.

Deep in color, the wine offer ripe notes of licorice, blackberry, cherry, wet earth and coffee bean. Soft in texture and already approachable, this should turn out nice with a few years of age.

3,426 Views   Tasted
2009
91
Popped and poured, this is clearly open for business. This charming St. Emilion offers licorice, espresso bean and chocolate covered plums with hints of boysenberry in the nose. Round tannins and plush textures make this even better. Even though the wine is 15% ABV, there is no sensation of heat in the fennel and black cherry filled finish.

Popped and poured, this is clearly open for business. This charming St. Emilion offers licorice, espresso bean and chocolate covered plums with hints of boysenberry in the nose. Round tannins and plush textures make this even better. Even though the wine is 15% ABV, there is no sensation of heat in the fennel and black cherry filled finish.

5,203 Views   Tasted
2005
91
Still deep in color, with nose packed with licorice, chocolate covered black cherry and plum with soft, round textures and a fresh, concentrated, blackberry, fennel and cocoa finish. This is just starting to drink well and the best is yet to come.

Still deep in color, with nose packed with licorice, chocolate covered black cherry and plum with soft, round textures and a fresh, concentrated, blackberry, fennel and cocoa finish. This is just starting to drink well and the best is yet to come.

6,343 Views   Tasted
2001
91
Fully mature, this lusciously textured wine shows off its dark plums, licorice, black cherry, dark chocolate and floral charms with ease. With enough flesh to please the hedonists, and freshness to give it life, this is the best of older vintages of Grand Pontet I have ever tasted.

Fully mature, this lusciously textured wine shows off its dark plums, licorice, black cherry, dark chocolate and floral charms with ease. With enough flesh to please the hedonists, and freshness to give it life, this is the best of older vintages of Grand Pontet I have ever tasted.

3,435 Views   Tasted