92-93 POINTS: JAMES SUCKLING - Solid core of fruit and polished tannins give this a tight and composed palate. Fresh and bright.
91-93 POINTS: VINOUS - The 2018 Poujeaux displays good intensity on the nose, which is much more vivid and vivacious than recent vintages, featuring copious black cherry, bilberry and light marine aromas. The new oak here is well integrated. The palate is smooth on the entry with plush, almost luxuriant tannins. There is a sense of cohesion here, although the oak dominates the finish at the moment. This is a Poujeaux of substance; what it needs is a little more finesse on the finish, although I suspect that will develop with bottle age. Great potential. -Neal Martin
MISSION NOTES - If you’re looking for secrets in the world of Bordeaux, there are few greater than Château Poujeaux in Moulis—far from a house hold name, and full of value as a result. There are no classified growths in Moulis like in more prestigious communes like Margaux and St. Julien, but there are thirty-one different Cru Bourgeois properties using the name "Grand-Poujeaux" due to their proximity to the Moulis subregion of the same name. A gravel mound located in the northeast of the appellation is where the soil is stony and has the best drainage, and it’s there you’ll find Château Poujeaux proper: the best of these estates and one of the oldest, having been founded in the mid-sixteenth century. Over the last thirty years there has been great progress made in Moulis on the whole in terms of quality, and that quality is apparent in every sip of the classic 2018 vintage that retails for well under $40 and drinks like $60. Drink it now with some decanting, or lay it down in your cellar for a decade. You’re going to be pleased either way.
