Chateau Poujeaux

In the commune of Moulis, in the heart of the Upper Médoc, Château Poujeaux is one of the two estates that have contributed most significantly to raising Moulis’s profile in Bordeaux. In 2003, it was classified as a ‘Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel’ (exceptional bourgeois wine), one of only nine in the Médoc.

The estate is currently owned by the Cuvellier family and produces around 25,000 cases of wine per year.

History

The Poujeaux estate has been known since the Middle Ages, when it was associated with what is now Château Latour in Pauillac. The name Château Poujeaux first appeared in written records in 1806. Winemaking began in earnest in the 19th century, but over time the estate was divided into three separate parts. The Teille family, who acquired the estate, reunited it and by the end of the 20th century had restored its size and reputation.

In January 2008, Philippe Cuvellier and his son Matthieu purchased the estate. The Couvelier family also owns Clos Fourté in Saint-Émilion and brought in consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt to work with the existing team of winemakers.

Vineyards and terroir

The estate covers 68 hectares, unusually concentrated in a single large plot. The best plots are situated on gravelly slopes up to 25 metres high on the Grand-Poujeaux plateau, planted at a density of 10,000 vines per hectare. The average age of the vines is around 35 years. The soils consist of Günz gravel on sand and clay, a classic terroir of the Left Bank of the Médoc, which drains well and warms up quickly in summer.

Grape varieties and winemaking

The vineyard is planted with 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. The grapes are vinified by plot in small vats, and since the estate passed into the hands of the Cuvelliers family, they have switched to organic and environmentally sustainable farming methods. Yields are gradually being reduced.

Wines

The grand vin is Château Poujeaux. The second wine is La Salle de Château Poujeaux, named after the estate’s medieval name. Both wines are AOC Moulis reds.