Château Margaux CEO Paul Pontallier dies

Photo from Vertdevin youtube

This March 28, 2016, Paul Pontallier, CEO of Château Margaux (1er Grand Cru Classé at Margaux) died.
He was born in Bordeaux in April 22, 1956. He studied at the National Institute of Agronomy of Paris Grignon. Later he specialized in Viticulture and Oenology at the Montpellier University and at the Institute of Oenology of Talence (PhD degree).
In 1983 Paul Pontallier joined the Château Margaux, where he worked with Emile Peynaud. In 1990 he became the CEO of this famous Cru Classé. He engaged in the Château Margaux many improvement works for the vineyard, the production tools, for the winemaking (vinification, ageing …).
He was a great winemaker who had significant improvements on the Château Margaux‘ wines.

I had the opportunity to meet this great man at various Bordeaux En Primeur events and I can only be saddened by this news.
Condolences and thoughts to his family, his friends and his team.