Château Maucaillou - Moulis-en-Médoc 2019

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Located near the Moulis train station, Château Maucaillou boasts a rather unusual architectural style, blending Renaissance and 18th-century elements. Owned by the Dourthe family since 1929, Pascal, with the help of his two sisters, Magali and Caroline, took over the reins in 2007, continuing the work begun by their father, Philippe. Since the 2009 vintage, Magali has changed the style of the wines; they are now smoother and more modern than in the past, while remaining robust and suitable for aging.

Decanter

About the wine:

This wine comes from a 66-hectare vineyard, 80% of which is planted on gravelly hilltops and 20% on clay-limestone subsoil. Owned by the Dourthe family, this wine is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot. The nose is magnificent, with notes of herbs and dried flowers accompanied by fragrant black fruits. Smooth and utterly charming from the very first sip, juicy, lively, and playful—equally sweet, tangy, and creamy, all combining to create a full-bodied mouthfeel with dense, full-bodied tannins, freshness, and concentration. It’s truly captivating—a delicate and flavorful wine. Excellent style, confident and full of character; it has everything you could ask for. Crisp, full-bodied, and mineral, with a salty, wet-stone finish that I love. 2023–2034

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

A flagship wine from Moulis, established in 1875 in the localities of Caubet and Maucaillou (“bad rock”), a gravelly hilltop unsuitable for growing grain for medieval farmers but ideal for vines. Owned by the Dourthe family since 1929, this estate has grown from 3.5 hectares at that time to 90 hectares today. Philippe Dourthe, the current owner, has entrusted its management to his three children.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the estate:

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

Barrel sample. This is a ripe, jammy wine with a bold structure and dark, fruity tannins. The approximately 60% Cabernet Sauvignon gives the wine structure and tannins that will allow it to age well.

Vinous

About the wine:

The 2019 Maucaillou is a very lovely wine—elegant and nuanced, with a beautiful aromatic profile and excellent balance. A wine of delicacy and restraint, the 2019 is exceptionally classy and flawless. Crushed flowers, red berries, mint. It’s beautifully crafted. 2023–2034

James Suckling

About the wine:

Aromas of ripe plum, cherry, lemon zest, bark, and licorice. It is medium-bodied with firm, grainy tannins and fresh acidity. Well-structured and fresh. Ready to drink starting in 2024.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

A delicate bouquet with subtle notes of red and black berries. On the palate, the wine features precise, fine-grained tannins. Maucaillou will never stand out for its power, but the finesse it displays in 2019 is worth noting! A delightful and fresh wine. 2024–2032

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is fruity and offers a refined, subtle power, delicate intensity, and concentration. It reveals notes of strawberry, raspberry, and, more subtly, blackcurrant, combined with hints of refined minerality, Sichuan pepper, and violet, as well as subtle hints of spice and chocolate. On the palate, it is fruity and mineral, offering smoothness, a delicate, tangy structure, subtle tension, and precision. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of ripe, juicy blackcurrant, wild strawberry, and, to a lesser extent, juicy, crisp red berries, combined with hints of fresh violet, fresh lilac, and elegant minerality, as well as hints of blackberry, licorice, and vanilla/blond tobacco. The tannins are well-integrated.