Moulis is one of the six communes in the Médoc and I like to call it one of the forgotten grand appellations. Like it's neighbors of Margaux and St. Julien, the wines are based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and can be rich and structured.  Granins-Grand-Poujeaux is a 10-hectare vineyard with about two thirds of the plantation on the typical small-grain gravel (from the Günz) of the Grand Poujeaux in the commune of Moulis and the balance on clayey limestone. The average age of the vines is 35 years and planted to Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Merlot (45%), Malbec (5%) and petit Verdot (10%). All harvest is done by hand and the wine spends between 12 - 15 months in barrel with about a third of the barrels replaced each year.

This is a classic Bordeaux Médoc wine with excellent structure and fruit and well balanced with acidity and wood. Essentially, everything I look for in a good wine from the Médoc.

With only 67,000 bottles produced each year (almost 5600 cases), this small property will never see large distribution and all the better since the wine is reasonably priced and an excellent value among many of its overpriced neighbors.

This is a wine to be enjoyed with red meats, roasted or grilled, as well as rich fowl like goose or duck or other poultry with a rich flavored sauce.

The wine will cellar well for 5 to 7 years and reward you well if you can wait just a bit. Decanting the wine at the table always enhances the enjoyment.

Selected and imported by Grape News Importing, Ltd. Chicago, IL