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Wine
• Chateau Dutruch Grand Poujeaux.
Vintage
• 2003.
Country
• France.
Region
• Bordeaux/Moulis-en-Medoc.
• Producer: EARL Francois Cordonnier.
• Classification: AOC Moulis, Cru Bourgeois Supérieur.
• Grapes: Merlot 53%, Cabernet Sauvignon 46%, Petit Verdot 1%.
• Alcohol: 13% vol. Closure: Natural Cork.
Estate and Background
• The 26 ha estate is located between Poujeaux and Chasse-Spleen and as to 90% on gravel of the River Garonne and as to 10% on limestone soils. These soils have an important influence on the wine making. They are hard but quite rich, the vines have to struggle and consequently produce that certain strength of body which is the hallmark of Dutruch. Another factor is a high density of planting (8,500 to 10,000 vines per hectare), making life for the vines even more difficult. These vines are quite old with an average of 29 years. Consequently, 60% is still hand-harvested.
• All this culminates in low yields (37 Hectolitres per Hectare in 2003) of which 40% go to the second label wine of the Chateau, La Bernède Grand Poujeaux. The Dutruch is fermented in concrete and steel vats, which maintain a perfect temperature during this process. The wine is then transferred to French oak barrels for aging. Depending on the vintage, between 25% and 33% of barrels are replaced each year. There is slight filtration only if necessary.
• Dutruch is owned by the Cordonnier family, Jean-Baptiste and Nathalie. They are supported by Jean-Bernard Despatures, the Vineyard Manager, and Vincent Sacco, the Cellar Master.
• Visits: Generally not open to the public, but iVintners can arrange for you to be received.
The Wine
• Generally, it can be said that through the investment and care lavished on the estate, the wines have gained enormously in structure, volume and complexity. When young, the wines develops a bouquet of intensive red fruit, with quite a racy structure behind, promising big development potential and long aging over up to 12 years. If anything describes the Dutruch best, it is "achieved harmony", just the right amount of everything to make this the iVintners owner's personal favourite.
• Robert Parker reviews Dutruch favourably in his book The Wines of Bordeaux, August 2005, calling Dutruch a positive surprise and undervalued. Numerous prizes and generally positive remarks in articles and books, from Guide Hachette to Weinwelt, support the general picture of an estate that is getting better year by year.
• We love the 2003 Dutruch, it is a master piece and at least as good as 2000. Dutruch is not yet well known in the UK. However, it is very popular in Germany, and the 2003 obtained many excellent marks there, e.g. Weinwisser (16/20) and in France, e.g. IN VINO VERTAS (First in its category). Meanwhile, Decanter gave the 2004 16 points, it was rated 86 to 89 points in Cash and finally awarded a "Coup de Coeur" by IN VINO VERITAS. We also tasted it and it will be as good as the 2003, despite the fact that many 2004 Medoc have the tendency to be, well, thin. Rest assured that iVintners has reserved its share.
• The 2003 has a fine deep red colour with a purple shine and develops a bouquet of summer fruit and summer flowers. On thepalate there is an immediate taste of boiled plums, with the first hints of chocolate and vanilla that will become more pronounced later. Overall, it is surprisingly smooth, but always with backbone. Like a Rolls Royce perhaps, so smooth to run, but with power described simply as "always adequate".
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