Chateau Branas Grand Poujeaux
In Moulis-en-Médoc, Château Branas Grand Poujeaux has two much better-known neighbours sitting right beside it, Châteaux Poujeaux and Chasse-Spleen. Its vines are on the Grand Poujeaux gravel plateau, at the eastern end of the appellation, the side closest to the Gironde estuary. That plateau is the reason the estate exists in the form it does: deep Garonne gravel over calcareous subsoil, worked plot by plot rather than as one block. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon carry the blend, with a little Petit Verdot for structure.
Since 2018 the property has been certified Haute Valeur Environnementale level III, the top rung of France's environmental farming scheme. Moulis stays quiet compared with Pauillac or Margaux. Branas is one of the addresses that makes the quiet worth investigating.
The vineyards
Château Branas Grand Poujeaux cultivates 17 hectares of vines, all of which is centered around the gravelly hills of Grand Poujeaux, located on the eastern side of the Moulis appellation.
Rather than treating this as a single vineyard, the winery divides it into 12 distinct plots. Each plot has its own unique soil composition, grape variety, and vine age. This subdivision is intentional and is precisely where the complexity of the finished wine originates.
Drainage plays a crucial role here. The nutrient-poor yet gravel-rich soil forces the roots to penetrate the various layers below and extend deep into the ground.
In 2018, the chateau received the environmental certification at the III level and that is highest level of the HVE system.
Why Moulis is called a miniature Médoc
Moulis-en-Médoc covers an area of approximately 600 hectares and is one of the most confidential communal appellations on the left bank of the Gironde estuary. Margaux lies to the south, while Saint-Julien and Pauillac lie to the north. Moulis itself is a narrow strip stretching approximately 7 km from east to west.
These topographical features account for the diversity of the soil. Near the estuary in the east, there is gravel, while in the west, there is a plain composed of a mixture of sand and clay; in between, the typical Médoc soil type is predominantly found. Consequently, Moulis is considered to encapsulate the characteristics of the entire region within a small area.
Château Branas Grand Poujeaux is located at the edge of the gravel zone. Geologically, this soil consists of a Garonne gravel layer deposited during the Gunz period, with a Saint-Estèphe calcareous sedimentary layer extending beneath it, the same subsoil layer found in the Pauillac and Margaux first growth terroirs.
The grape varieties
Château Branas Grand Poujeaux cultivates three grape varieties:
- Merlot (50%): Adds color, depth of flavor, and a smooth taste.
- Cabernet Sauvignon (45%): Provides intense aroma, structure, and aging potential.
- Petit Verdot, 5%: Adds strength to the structure and brings out the aromas.
This is a blend with a much more balanced ratio of Merlot and Cabernet compared to the Cabernet-dominant blends used in the northern communes.
The wine
The Grand Vin is named after this vineyard, Château Branas Grand Poujeaux, and is a full-bodied, oak-aged red wine from the Moulis-en-Médoc appellation. This wine is made from a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown on the Grand Poujeaux Plateau.
Blending this wine involves combining 12 vineyards, each cultivated and harvested as separate units, into a single wine. This is the core philosophy here: rather than bottling a single vineyard as-is, we bring together small parcels to create a single wine.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Château Branas Grand Poujeaux based?
At 23, Chemin de la Raze in Moulis-en-Médoc, on the eastern side of the appellation, between Châteaux Poujeaux and Chasse-Spleen. The company behind it is SCEA Château Branas Grand Poujeaux.
What does Haute Valeur Environnementale III mean?
It is the highest of the three levels in France's environmental certification scheme for farms. Branas Grand Poujeaux has held it since 2018.
Which appellations border Moulis-en-Médoc?
Margaux to the south, Saint-Julien and Pauillac to the north. Moulis runs east to west in a strip of about 7 km, with the gravel sector, where Branas sits, at the eastern end.
