Margaux trialing “voodoo” biodynamics

9th April, 2013 by Lucy Shaw

Bordeaux first growth Château Margaux is experimenting with the “voodoo” of biodynamics, according its managing director Paul Pontallier.

A horse ploughs the vineyard at Château Margaux

During an en primeur tasting of the 2012 vintage at the château last week, Pontallier told the drinks business: “We’re currently looking into biodynamics and seeing how it compares to organics.

“I have a hard time believing that the voodoo will bring anything extra to the wines as I’m not a religious person, but the only way to find out is to try.”

Pontallier went on to compare biodynamics to a religion: “People believe in it, so they think it’s the way to go; that their god is better than their neighbour’s god.

“I haven’t seen much of a….

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4 Responses to “Margaux trialing “voodoo” biodynamics”

Tony Mason says:

April 9, 2013 at 4:02 pm

Full marks for experimenting with biodynamics, but if you start off with that attitude, how likely are you to achieve better results?

Reply
- Caroline Gilby says:
  
  April 9, 2013 at 4:55 pm
  
  Because if biodynamics is anything more than placebo, it will work whether you believe in it or not. That is the point of doing scientific trials.
  
  Reply
Frederic Ballario says:

April 9, 2013 at 4:49 pm

Not wanting to sacrifice your children but willing to kill the Mother sounds rather strange…

Reply
- Jim Lumbers says:
  
  April 11, 2013 at 1:54 am
  
  Two comments, first, the clear religious zealotry of two of the above replies certainly underscores Pontallier’s “voodoo” concerns.
  
  Second, the zealot who talked about “killing the mother” in the most recent reply should understand that organic rules require the use of copper sprays. Copper is a toxic heavy metal. It accumulates in sprayed vineyards and has been responsible for permanently poisoning 100s of hectares of vineyard and orchard soils. On this basis, organic viticulture has already killed many mothers.
  
  Reply