Château Poujeaux is one of the most highly regarded wines within Moulis, alongside Château Chasse-Spleen.
Winemaker Christophe Labenne, from the family that used to own the estate, was our host.
Château Poujeaux
Château Poujeaux is a leading Cru Bourgois property. In the 2003 classification of Cru Bourgeois wines, Château Poujeaux was one of just nine to be placed in the highest category, Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnels.
Château Poujeaux exists since the 16th century. In medieval times it was a manor that belonged to Latour Saint-Mambert which later became Château Latour. In the 19th century it became its independent wine producing entity, with the property passing through many hands and being divided into different estates, until the Theil family purchased it and had the good foresight to put Poujeaux back together. They breathed new life into the property. In 2008 Philippe Cuvelier and his son Matthieu took over the estate. Since then, the bar has been raised, and the wines have acquired new richness and polish. Its increasingly fine reputation over the last 20 years has done much to raise the profile of the Moulis region.
Vineyard and Wines
The estate lies to the north east of Moulis, with the 52 hectares of vines grouped together in one single block, planted on the left bank’s famous Günz gravel on banks around the village of Grand Poujeaux. Château Poujeaux produces about 25,000 cases of wine per year. The grape varieties used are 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. A second wine is produced, under the name La Salle de Poujeaux.
The Cuveliers recognized the talents of the winemaking team, which remains unchanged since they took over (the winemaker is the former owners’ grandson), but they have employed Stéphane Derenoncourt as a consultant. Grapes are vinified plot by plot in small tanks, before spending 12 months in oak, around a third of which is new.
With its higher proportion of Merlot and more evident influence of new oak, Poujeaux is usually easier to enjoy younger than Chasse-Spleen (usually for between seven and 20 years), though both wines age very well.
Tasting
The Wines
2009 Château Poujeaux
K&L: US$44.99
93 points James Suckling
Intense aromas of orange peel, blackberries and hints of mushrooms. Full body, with a solid core of soft and velvety tannins and a fruity finish. Well structured. One of the best wines from here in years. Try after 2017. (2/2012)
92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The final blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot was cropped very low at 35 hectoliters per hectare. Deep purple, with a nose of subtle smoke, graphite, blueberry and black raspberry fruit as well as some spring flowers, in the mouth a touch of oak makes an appearance, but the wine is full-bodied, rich, inky and unctuously textured due to the high glycerin and alcohol that hits 14% plus. This beauty should drink well for up to two decades. (RP) (2/2012)
2013 La Salle de Poujeaux
Wine-searcher average price: US$15
Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France Published and Forthcoming Postings)
Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France
Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France
Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France
Bordeaux Wine Tour 2013 by ombiasy
Bordeaux Wines and their Classifications: The Basics
Tour and Tasting at Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Grave - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France
Dinner with a View: At Restaurant L’Estacade in Bordeaux City - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Bordeaux City - An Update
Schiller’s Favorite Seafood Places in Bordeaux City, France - An Update
Bordeaux - En Primeur, Negociants, Courtiers, the Quai de Chartons and the Place de Bordeaux – A Short Introduction
How Does the Negociant System in Bordeaux Work? Tour and Tasting at Millésima - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France
Saint Emilion Wines and their Classification, Bordeaux, France
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in St. Emilion, France
Bio in Bordeaux: Cellar Tour, Vineyard Tour and Winepairing Lunch at Chateau Beauséjour and Château Langais, AOC Puisseguin-St.Emilion, with Owner/ Winemaker Gérard Dupuy - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
Tour and Tasting at Château Cheval Blanc, Appellation Saint-Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé A - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France
Tour and Tasting at Château La Conseillante, Appellation Pomerol, with GM/ Winemaker Marielle Cazaux - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
Tour with Dany Rolland: Château Le Bon Pasteur in Pomerol – Bordeaux Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch at Château Le Bon Pasteur, Pomerol, with Dany Rolland and Benoit Prévot - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France
Tasting with Joël and Sandrine Duffau at Château La Mothe du Barry and Château Les Arromans in the Heart of the Entre-Deux-Mers Region - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France
Visiting and Tasting at Château Climens, with Owner Bérénice Lurton, Bordeaux, France
Lunch at Restaurant Claude Darroze, 1 Star Michelin, in Langon, with Jean-Charles Darroze - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
Visit: Château de Chantegrive, Appellation Grave, with Owner Marie-Hélène Lévêque - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France
Schiller's Favorite Seafood Restaurants in Arcachon and Cap Ferret (Bassin d'Arcachon/ Bordeaux)
Visiting an Oyster Farm at Arcachon Bay, Bordeaux: Raphael Doerfler at Earl Ostrea Chanca - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France
Lunch at Pinasse Café, Cap Ferret - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France
The 5 Premiers Grands Crus Chateaux en 1855 of Bordeaux, France
What is a Bordeaux Cru Bourgeois? France
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Château Brane-Cantenac with Henri Luston, Owner - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France
Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Château Kirwan, Appellation Margaux, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, with Owner Natalie Schyler - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France
Visit and Tasting at Château Poujeaux, Appellation Moulis-en-Médoc, Cru Bourgeois, with Winemaker Christophe Labenne
How a Barrel is Made: Visit of the Cooperage Berger & Fils in Vertheuil, with General Manager Simon Grelier – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France
Tour and Tasting at Château Lafon-Rochet with Owner Michel Tesseron – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France
Tour and Tasting at Château Montrose, Appellation Saint-Estèphe, 2ième Grand Cru Classé
Tour, Barrel Tasting and Family Dinner at Château Le Reysse, Vignobles Paeffgen, Appellation Médoc, with Owner/ Winemaker Stefan Paeffgen
Tour and Tasting at Château Léoville Poyferré, Saint-Julien, 2ième Grand Cru Classé, with Didier and Anne Cuvelier
Tour and Tasting at Château Pichon-Longueville Baron in Pauillac - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France
Lunch at Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron with Chef à Domicile Bernadet Damien - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France
Tour and Tasting at Château Beychevelle, Appellation Saint-Julien, 4ième Grand Cru Classé, with General Manager Philippe Blanc
Visit and Tasting: Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France
Tour and Lunch at Château Malartic-Lagravière, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé
Tour and Wine Dinner at Château Haut-Bailly, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France
No comments:
Post a Comment