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 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 manage Chateau Grand Pontet today.
The 19 hectare vineyard of Chateau Grand Pontet is planted to 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 10% 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 places close to the chateau, on a clay and limestone slope that rises up to 55 meters.
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.
On average, close to 6,500 cases of Chateau Grand Pontet wine are produced each vintage. There is a second wine, Dauphin de Grand Pontet.