Quietly Organic

Decanter reports that Agence Bio (France's organic certification label) recently granted, for the first time, organic status to two Bordeaux Grand Cru Classé estates: Chateau Pontet-Canet in Pauillac and Chateau Guiraud in Sauternes.

In fact, Pontet-Canet was Biodynamic back in 2005, wavered during the difficult 2007 growing season, but now is back on its way to Biodynamic certification. And converting to Biodynamic practices is just one element in the long rehabilitation of the Pontet-Canet estate (a neighbour to Lafite-Rothschild and Mouton-Rothschild) since Guy Tesseron took over in 1975. The Tesseron family continues to innovate: the latest is to bring working horses back into the vineyard instead of tractors, with the view that horses cause less damage to the vines.

Pontet-Canet doesn’t make a big deal about being organic or Biodynamic in its marketing...no mention of their certification will appear on the label and you have to review their website carefully to find references to their practices. They know that organic, even Biodynamic, is the way to go and they just get on with it. It's not a gimmick for them.  Perhaps their illustrious neighbours will take note.

To learn more about what Pontet-Canet is up to, check out their video.

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