Increasing numbers of premium Bordeaux winemakers are limiting the use of pesticides after being accused of overusing chemicals that could potentially damage the environment or harm consumers’ health.

Analysis published by a French consumer magazine yesterday (Thurs) found traces of pesticides in 38 prestigious ‘grands crus’ costing an average of £35 a bottle, and in two more humble clarets. But the quantities were only about a third of those detected in similar tests in 2013.

French commentators hailed the results, reflecting a surge in demand for wines containing fewer pesticides, sulphites used as preservatives, and additives such as extracts of dried fish bladders used as binding agents, especially in sparkling white wines.

The French Consumers’ Association, which commissioned the study, said: “Most of the bottles we analysed were contaminated and contained one to six chemicals. A total of 11 different synthetic chemical compounds were identified.”

Only three of the 40 wines tested contained no trace of pesticides — Château Durfort-Vivens, Château Pontet-Canet and Château Clerc Milon. Four others contained traces too small to be measured accurately.