Château Poujeaux 2008 - Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

An elegant wine with classic characteristics, a deep color, and a nose of spices and blackberries. The palate is round and silky, with fine, well-integrated tannins.

About the estate:

Owned by the Cuvelier family since 2008 (who also own Clos Fourtet in Saint-Émilion), this vineyard—with its deep gravel soils on the Grand Poujeaux plateau—benefits from exceptional terroirs as well as state-of-the-art facilities. Under the guidance of Stéphane Derenoncourt, it produces one of the finest Moulis wines available, combining richness with great smoothness.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

Grown on one of the appellation’s finest terroirs, the Poujeaux hilltop, this wine lives up to the reputation of the estate, a former outbuilding of Latour. Its garnet color rivals in intensity its superb bouquet, with notes of morello cherry, cigar box, and toast. Flawless, both smooth and powerful, the palate builds to a spectacular finish. A great bottle that is already enjoyable, but one that would benefit from a little more time. The Cuveliers, who also own Clos Fourtet (a Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé), make a strong impression with their first vintage here.

About the estate:

Although omitted from the 1855 classification—as Moulis had long been a region devoted to grain farming—this cru is nonetheless among the most renowned in the Médoc. A former seigneury under the jurisdiction of Latour Saint-Maubert—later Château Latour—it experienced a resurgence in the 1920s under the Theil family, who consolidated the vineyard into a single 68-hectare block on the fine gravel terroir of Grand-Poujeaux and elevated the estate to the pinnacle of the appellation. Since 2008, it has been owned by Philippe Cuvelier, owner of Clos Fourtet (a First Growth of Saint-Émilion), who maintains the estate’s high standards of quality.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the wine:

Behind its refined aging profile lies a world that skillfully blends mild spice, plum, candied bell pepper, and hints of Havana. On the palate, with moderate intensity, it is built around a rather delicate tannic structure and gently releases a medley of flavors.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Another standout of the vintage, this magnificent 2008—rich and full-bodied—displays a deep ruby-purple color along with soft notes of black fruit, smoke, earthy tones, and forest floor aromas. Medium-bodied with exceptional concentration, purity, and a beautiful texture, it can be enjoyed now and over the next decade.

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

Thanks to efforts to revitalize the vineyard and stricter yield controls, the wine is more full-bodied and ripe. It already seems much more intense and complex than the soft and smooth 2007.

About the estate:

An iconic estate within the appellation, Poujeaux has been owned by the Cuvelier family (Clos Fourtet) since 2008. Under the leadership of its director, Christophe Labenne, and with advice from Stéphane Derenoncourt, the wines have steadily improved, reaching a solid level of quality, so much so that the estate remains a benchmark within the appellation. The style leans toward finesse and elegance, which suits the wine perfectly, though it also ages very well. The latest vintages are worth trying.

Wine Spectator

Jancis Robinson

James Suckling