If the notion of respect for the terroir is often associated with environmental measures today, we are attached to another important dimension, which is the emphasis on typicity: finesse and elegance.
The perpetual striving for quality obliges us to surpass ourselves in order to achieve the best out of each vintage. Over the years, our team has acquired know-how and an exact knowledge of our vineyards, enabling the production of great wines. Since 2016 this ongoing adventure has seen us improve and hone our environmental methods so that the only imprint we leave is that of impeccable quality.
We have been certified High Environmental Value level 3 since the 2018 vintage and have been trialing organic farming on a plot of 3.2 hectares since the same year.
Finesse, elegance
It was at the beginning of the 19th century that the Dutruch family created the estate, launching a distinguished history, which has been perpetuated since 1967 through to the present day by the Cordonnier family.
The first traces of Château Dutruch Grand Poujeaux can be found in the Féret guide of 1868. Subsequently, the high quality of the wines was recognized with the classification of Cru Bourgeois Supérieur from 1932, followed by Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel in both the 1966 and 1978 classifications.
François Cordonnier (senior), former manager of the Château de Chenonceau in the Loire region, bought the property in 1967 from the descendants of the original Dutruchs. He carefully developed the vineyard from 11 to 28 hectares. Although childless himself, he passed the property on to his nephew Jean Baptiste in 1994. Then, taking over the helm in 2016, François Cordonnier (junior) continued his uncle’s work, a perpetual striving to improve quality.
Located in the far east of the Moulis appellation, 80% of our vines are planted on the Grand Poujeaux plateau, recognized as the best terroir in Moulis. Its reputation comes both from its deep gravel soils called “Type 3 terraces”, identical to the gravel in Saint-Estèphe or the western part of Saint-Julien, as well as from its proximity to the Gironde, whose influences in terms of temperature and humidity allow for optimal ripening of the grapes.
The remaining 20% of our vineyards are composed of clay-limestone and sandy soils.
This diversity of terroir brings great complexity and richness to our wines.
Château Dutruch Grand Poujeaux is produced from grapes of the estate’s older vines. The harvest is carried out manually at optimum maturity to preserve the natural acidity of the berries. We thus obtain a wine with perfect acidity, balanced, pleasurable to drink, and with a great potential for ageing.
The ageing is then carried out in French oak barrels for 12 months. One third of the barrels are new, 1/3 are one year old and 1/3 are two years old. Whilst the oak character is fundamental because it provides precision and tannic structure, it is essential for us that the oak only supports the expression of the wine and not the other way around.
In its youth, Château Dutruch Grand Poujeaux presents aromas dominated by intense red and black fruits, with subtle underlying toasted and roasted notes. On the palate it is smooth yet precise, with depth of fruit and perfect balancing acidity. The tannins, present but well integrated, are ripe and persistent. With age, the flavours develop and become more complex, with aromatic notes such as menthol and truffle.
We advise you to wait at least 3 to 5 years, thereafter the aging potential depends on the vintage but can be as much as 15-20 years, or even more if carefully cellared.
Production: 80 to 120,000 bottles.
From our younger vines, Le Petit Dutruch is a wine for early consumption. Fruit forward with appealing acidity, its lighter structure will make it an easy accompaniment to meals, but also appetizers such as cold meats, cheese, toast, etc.
We recommend drinking the Petit Dutruch within 3 to 5 years, although it can be stored longer without problems.
Production: 10 to 20,000 bottles.
