Why it matters
The producer
Château Poujeaux is a red Bordeaux château in the Moulis appellation, owned by the Cuvelier family. Matthieu Cuvelier and Christophe Labenne co-manage the property with enthusiasm and determination. Cabernet Sauvignon leads the grape composition, supported by Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
The estate's wines are regarded as some of Bordeaux's best value wines and as the finest wine from Moulis. The current team combines family ownership with a changed approach to farming and winemaking.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Moulis is Château Poujeaux's primary appellation within Bordeaux's Left Bank. The wine is also listed under Haut-Médoc, while Moulis is the more precise producer address.
An appellation names the defined place attached to a wine. Château Poujeaux is outside the formal 1855 classification, yet the estate is regarded as the finest wine produced from Moulis.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
The estate farms 68 hectares. The grape composition is 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Farming techniques changed during Matthieu Cuvelier's tenure.
Fermentation uses whole berries in small stainless steel vats, oak barrels and cement tanks. The cuvaison lasts twenty five days, keeping the wine in contact with the grape skins long enough to build colour and tannin. Ageing takes place in about 40% new French oak for an average of twelve months. New oak contributes spice and controlled oxygen exchange while the time in barrel softens the tannins.
Wines to know
The range in view
The range centres on Château Poujeaux, a red Moulis wine made in 2020, 2021 and 2023 vintages. The label stays constant while the vintage changes, making year comparison central to the range.
Château Poujeaux reaches peak maturity between five and twenty years after vintage. The wine is therefore built for development in bottle, with each release offering a different point along the same estate style.