WTN: Poujeaux 96, 00, 01

I like Poujeaux. They make a true tasting Bordeaux and are priced fairly. Also, they tend to age well while being accessible young. I was happy to taste through a couple vintages that have recently been available here in the cold dreary north.

Poujeaux 1996

Cassis and cigar box - almost stereotypical Bordeaux aromas, but sooo delicious! It does seem a bit reticent, so it could do with a few more years aging. The tight palate supports this view: much tannins, there is a great concentration of fruit also, but it is a bit shy. Great length and great freshness. A delightful wine and gave me immense pleasure despite being a bit closed.

Poujeaux 2000

This did not give me great pleasure. I know I'll make myself unpopular by saying this, but I beleive foremost in honesty so I'll say this anyway: I like cooler vintages. This didn't smell ripe. It smelled over-ripe. This didn't taste fruity, it tasted almost confected. There was also that strange lactic scent which I so often get with super-ripeness and new oak (though I have no idea how much new oak this sees). It was more like blueberry liquer than wine. There is some acidity showing, but not quite the amount to make the aftertaste fresh. This may be well made, but since I want to be honest, I'll admit that I didn't like it.

But I have a question about these warm vintages. The 2000s have been present in many tastings over here, and they always seem to show, if not explosive, at least expressive. Don't warm vintages close down?

Poujeaux 2001

Quite a delightful wine! The nose was herbal, savoury, leafy, but with nice fruit. The palate was similar. There was great balance for my tastes and great freshness on the long finish.

Despite my short note, this was maybe the most memorable of the three for me for its freshness and "naturalness".

the 1998 Poujeaux is one of the most aromatic wines I have ever opened.. delightful. I will have to remember to look for the 2001. Thank you for the note, Otto.

[James Roscoe]

Otto, while I like the 2000's more than you do, I think they need a lot more age. The '01s are so much better now. They may always be better. I am going to have to search out this Chateau. Great notes as always.

[Jenise]

Haven't had the others but loved the 96 too. Found it about as you did one year ago, where the 98 was--well, what Jim said. Just lovely. Exuberant but not over the top.

Nice notes and very encouraging for me as I have a small as yet untried stock of all these vintages as well as 94, 95, 98 and 99. It sounds as if i should add to my stock of 2001 which a local supermarket is offering at EUR 18,99 until the end of the month.

Lately there have been some discordant voices about Poujeaux. For example Le Classement edited by La Revue du Vin de France has demoted the estate from 2 stars to no stars in less than five years complaining of a loss of depth in the wines from about 2000 compared to previous vintages. I have tasted barrel samples of 00, 01 and 02 and, allowing for the difficulty of enjoying young Médoc, they seemed very good and solid to me and at least equal to the samples of several higher ranking estates. I am glad to have this confirmation of 2001 and 2000(?) showing so well after several years in bottle.

Jenise and Jim:

Must be something about the '98s in that neck of the Bordeaux vineyard. My beloved (and no longer imported, post 2000) Ch. Fourcas-Hosten (Listrac) showed in a similar fashion. Impeccable sauce for the money!

Dave Mo

I'm on the search for 01 Poujeaux, and 97 and 99 GPL... damn these wine boards!! My CC is suffering!

Otto, while I like the 2000's more than you do, I think they need a lot more age. The '01s are so much better now. They may always be better. I am going to have to search out this Chateau. Great notes as always.

James, all of these were too young - but all apart from the '96 were fully open.

Nice notes and very encouraging for me as I have a small as yet untried stock of all these vintages as well as 94, 95, 98 and 99. It sounds as if i should add to my stock of 2001 which a local supermarket is offering at EUR 18,99 until the end of the month.

I'd go ahead and buy the 2001 - with the caveat that I like lean and mean wines! At that price I'd buy a couple cases: one to drink now before it closes down and one to lay down.

I'm on the search for 01 Poujeaux, and 97 and 99 GPL... damn these wine boards!! My CC is suffering!

Good choices! Once you taste these three wines, I'm sure your CC will forgive you