France · Médoc

Château Poujeax

Moulis reds led by Cabernet Sauvignon, with sustainable vineyard work and a named second and third wine.

The producer

Château Poujeaux is a Bordeaux estate in Moulis-en-Médoc under Cuvelier family ownership. Its vines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The range comprises Château Poujeaux, La Salle de Poujeaux and Haut de Poujeaux, with the latter made from Haut-Médoc vines. Whole berry fruit ferments in stainless steel vats, oak barrels and cement tanks, then ages in French oak. Sustainable vineyard work includes Guyot double trellising, desuckering, early deleafing and green harvesting. Stephane Derenoncourt is the winemaking consultant.

Known for

Moulis reds led by Cabernet Sauvignon

Notable facts

The story

The 2008 Cuvelier Sale

In 2008, Jean Theil sold Château Poujeaux to Philippe Cuvelier. The Cuvelier family also owns Clos Fourtet in Saint-Émilion. Sustainable viticultural practices take place across the family estates, including organic and experimental biodynamic methods. At Poujeaux, the vineyard work includes traditional Guyot double trellising, desuckering, early deleafing and green harvesting. Stephane Derenoncourt is the winemaking consultant. The change placed Poujeaux within the Cuvelier family estate group.

From the atlas

Château Poujeaux

At A Glance

FieldDetail
ClassificationCru Bourgeois Exceptionnel, one of nine estates in the highest category in 2003
Annual productionApproximately 25,000 cases
Vineyard density10,000 vines per hectare
Winemaking consultantStephane Derenoncourt

The Producer

Jean Theil sold Château Poujeaux to Philippe Cuvelier in 2008. Under Cuvelier family ownership, the estate uses sustainable viticultural practices that include organic and experimental biodynamic methods. Vineyard work includes traditional Guyot double trellising, desuckering, early deleafing and green harvesting.

Place

The estate sits in Moulis-en-Médoc, a Bordeaux appellation. That place name on the label gives the wine a defined geographic address within the Médoc.

Wines

The range has three positions. Château Poujeaux is the main estate wine, La Salle de Poujeaux is the second wine, formerly called Moulin de Poujeaux, and Haut de Poujeaux is the third wine, made from vines in the Haut-Médoc appellation.

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot lead the vineyard planting, with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot completing the four grape varieties. The range therefore moves from the main estate label to two wines with distinct positions and origins.

Final Word

Whole berry fruit ferments in a combination of small stainless steel vats, oak barrels and cement tanks for approximately 25 days. Whole berries remain intact at the start of fermentation, while the different vessels offer distinct ways to manage the ferment. Ageing follows in approximately 40% new French oak for 12 months, adding gradual oxygen and wood spice.

Sources

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