Chateau Maucaillou Haut Medoc Moulis Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Chateau Maucaillou

Learn everything about Chateau Maucaillou Moulis with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, the history of the property, and information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Maucaillou History, Overview

Chateau Maucaillou dates back to at least 1871 when the estate was developed by the Petit Laroche family. The name of Maucaillou can be translated into bad stones. The name was perfect for the estate because of the poor, rocky soils which were too harsh for planting anything except grapevines.

The Petit Laroche family were successful negociants at the time. They chose the location, due to its close proximity to the local railroads in Moulis, which made shipping their wines easier. They built the chateau in 1875.

However, the modern era for Chateau Maucaillou starts in the depths of the great depression, when the property was sold to the well-known Dourthe group, which already was an established negociant company by that time. Dourthe owns several estates in the Medoc, Pessac Leognan, and St. Emilion, as well as the large negociant house, CVGB.

Chateau Maucaillou Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The large 86-hectare Left Bank vineyard of Chateau Maucaillou has a terroir of gravel-based soils. The vineyard is planted to 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. This shows a small increase of Cabernet in the vineyard The vines are harvested using a combination of machine harvesting and pickers.

Their best terroir is located on gravel soils close to the chateau. All the work in the vines is self-sustaining.

The wines are vinified in temperature-controlled, stainless steel vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in tanks. The wines are aged in about 60%, new, French oak barrels for an average of 16 – 18 months prior to bottling. There is a second wine, Le No 2 de Maucaillou. There is also a 3rd wine, Le Haut Medoc de Maucaillou Haut Medoc, which as the name suggests comes from vines planted outside of Moulis, in the Haut Medoc appellation.

In addition, the estate produces a white Bordeaux wine from Sauvignon Blanc, Le B Par Maucaillou Brut which is sold as an AOC Bordeaux Blanc, and sparkling wine, Tentation par Maucaillou, making them one of the few Left Bank chateaux making a Cremant de Bordeaux.

The production of Chateau Maucaillou is large as they make close to 40,000 cases of wine per vintage.

Aside from a chateau, vineyard, and winery, there is another reason to visit Chateau Maucaillou. They have a wine museum and a gallery of wine-related artworks.

The owners of Chateau Maucaillou also produce Chateau Duplessis Fabre, Chateau Cap de Haut Maucaillou and Chateau Maucaillou Felletin from 26 hectares of vines that are also planted in the Haut Medoc appellation.

The best vintages of Chateau Maucaillou are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2010, and 2009.

When to Drink Chateau Maucaillou, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Maucaillou is better young with 1 hour or so of decanting. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau Maucaillou is usually better with at least 2-4 years of bottle age.

Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Maucaillou offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 3-12 years of age after the vintage.

Serving and Decanting Chateau Maucaillou with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Maucaillou is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. The wine of Chateau Maucaillou is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.

Chateau Maucaillou Barton is a perfect match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta as well as cheese.

www.maucaillou.com

Château Maucaillou Wine Tasting Notes

16 Vintages 45,469 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2022 Château Maucaillou  (Moulis en Médoc) 90
Forward, round, sweet, and fruity, with a core of black plums, espresso, cocoa, and tobacco from start to finish. The medium-bodied wine is round, soft, and ready for prime time drinking on release. Drink from 2025-2037. 89-91 Pts.

Forward, round, sweet, and fruity, with a core of black plums, espresso, cocoa, and tobacco from start to finish. The medium-bodied wine is round, soft, and ready for prime time drinking on release. Drink from 2025-2037. 89-91 Pts.

608 Views   Tasted
2021 Château Maucaillou  (Moulis en Médoc) 85
Light, forward, soft and fruity, you can enjoy this brighter-styled, leafy, red currant and cranberry filled wine with ease on release. Drink from 2023-2030. 84-86

Light, forward, soft and fruity, you can enjoy this brighter-styled, leafy, red currant and cranberry filled wine with ease on release. Drink from 2023-2030. 84-86

1,338 Views   Tasted
2020 Château Maucaillou  (Moulis en Médoc) 88
Earthy, with a floral touch to the plums, herbs, tobacco and espresso on the nose and palate. The finish is focused on its core of sweet, red cherries and spice, which comes in with the endnote. Drink from 2023-2034.

Earthy, with a floral touch to the plums, herbs, tobacco and espresso on the nose and palate. The finish is focused on its core of sweet, red cherries and spice, which comes in with the endnote. Drink from 2023-2034.

690 Views   Tasted
With a touch of smoke, licorice, espresso and bright red berries, the wine is medium-bodied, forward, chewy, crisp, fresh and classic in style. 87-89 Pts

With a touch of smoke, licorice, espresso and bright red berries, the wine is medium-bodied, forward, chewy, crisp, fresh and classic in style. 87-89 Pts

1,521 Views   Tasted
2019 Château Maucaillou  (Moulis en Médoc) 87
Medium-bodied, spicy, fresh, soft, forward, fruity wine that will offer nice, early drinking, uncomplicated pleasure. Drink from 2022-2029.

Medium-bodied, spicy, fresh, soft, forward, fruity wine that will offer nice, early drinking, uncomplicated pleasure. Drink from 2022-2029.

1,307 Views   Tasted
Medium-bodied, four-square, correct, easy drinking, fresh, bright, red berry filled wine that will deliver pleasure on release. 88-89 Pts

Medium-bodied, four-square, correct, easy drinking, fresh, bright, red berry filled wine that will deliver pleasure on release. 88-89 Pts

2,539 Views   Tasted
2018 Château Maucaillou  (Moulis en Médoc) 90
Round, creamy, sweet, red fruits with hints of cocoa, tobacco and earth, the wine offers freshness, fruit and charm at a value price. And it will drink well in its youth.

Round, creamy, sweet, red fruits with hints of cocoa, tobacco and earth, the wine offers freshness, fruit and charm at a value price. And it will drink well in its youth.

1,125 Views   Tasted
Ripe, round, forward, fresh and fun, the wine is soft, on the sweet side with licorice, earth, tobacco and spice to flesh things out. This is a solid example of a Bordeaux value wine from the Medoc. 88-90 Pts

Ripe, round, forward, fresh and fun, the wine is soft, on the sweet side with licorice, earth, tobacco and spice to flesh things out. This is a solid example of a Bordeaux value wine from the Medoc. 88-90 Pts

2,056 Views   Tasted
2017 Château Maucaillou  (Moulis en Médoc) 87
Forward, medium-bodied, early-drinking pleasure is found here, with a nice, fresh, juicy red fruit character.

Forward, medium-bodied, early-drinking pleasure is found here, with a nice, fresh, juicy red fruit character.

1,852 Views   Tasted
2016 Château Maucaillou  (Moulis en Médoc) 89
Forward in style, showing a big shot of espresso with layers of ripe, juicy blackberries, smoke, licorice and tobacco all wrapped up in a round, fruity finish.

Forward in style, showing a big shot of espresso with layers of ripe, juicy blackberries, smoke, licorice and tobacco all wrapped up in a round, fruity finish.

2,721 Views   Tasted
Forward in style, with loads of ripe, sweet, blackberries, cedar, oak and tobacco to keep you busy.

Forward in style, with loads of ripe, sweet, blackberries, cedar, oak and tobacco to keep you busy.

2,056 Views   Tasted
2015 Château Maucaillou  (Moulis en Médoc) 84
Simple, medium bodied, wine that delivers a light, cherry, cranberry and herbal profile for early quaffing consumption.

Simple, medium bodied, wine that delivers a light, cherry, cranberry and herbal profile for early quaffing consumption.

2,699 Views   Tasted
Showing a forward, easy drinking, black cherry, earth and cassis, medium bodied, forward character for early consumption. 85 - 87 Pts

Showing a forward, easy drinking, black cherry, earth and cassis, medium bodied, forward character for early consumption. 85 - 87 Pts

2,703 Views   Tasted
2014 Château Maucaillou  (Moulis en Médoc) 89
Forward, medium bodied, soft, polished fresh, easy drinking, red fruits, earth, tobacco and spice. Round tannins and a fruity finish polish this off nicely.

Forward, medium bodied, soft, polished fresh, easy drinking, red fruits, earth, tobacco and spice. Round tannins and a fruity finish polish this off nicely.

2,331 Views   Tasted
2013 Château Maucaillou  (Moulis en Médoc) 84
Medium bodied with a bright red berry character with espresso bean and cranberry notes, this crisp wine is made for early drinking consumption.

Medium bodied with a bright red berry character with espresso bean and cranberry notes, this crisp wine is made for early drinking consumption.

2,455 Views   Tasted
2012 Château Maucaillou  (Moulis en Médoc) 87
A perfect example of a nice, Left Bank charmer, with soft tannins, ripe, dark red fruits, and a bit of earth and thyme. Forward in style, this medium bodied, early drinking, not overly complicated wine, is already nice in the glass.

A perfect example of a nice, Left Bank charmer, with soft tannins, ripe, dark red fruits, and a bit of earth and thyme. Forward in style, this medium bodied, early drinking, not overly complicated wine, is already nice in the glass.

3,100 Views   Tasted
2011 Château Maucaillou  (Moulis en Médoc) 83
Slightly past fully mature, the wine is on the bright, crisp, red berry side with strong green herb, cedar and peppery accents. This needs drinking sooner than later.

Slightly past fully mature, the wine is on the bright, crisp, red berry side with strong green herb, cedar and peppery accents. This needs drinking sooner than later.

2,002 Views   Tasted
2010 Château Maucaillou  (Moulis en Médoc) 86
Forward, medium bodied, easy drinking wine, with a crisp, red and dark fruit with tobacco character.

Forward, medium bodied, easy drinking wine, with a crisp, red and dark fruit with tobacco character.

3,913 Views   Tasted
2009 Château Maucaillou  (Moulis en Médoc) 89
Fully mature, round, fruity, earthy, ripe red fruits and black cherries with earth and thyme notes make this a charming, easy drinking pleaser at its peak. I would not hold out for more on this.

Fully mature, round, fruity, earthy, ripe red fruits and black cherries with earth and thyme notes make this a charming, easy drinking pleaser at its peak. I would not hold out for more on this.

2,430 Views   Tasted
2005 Château Maucaillou  (Moulis en Médoc) 87
Fully mature, with a sweet core of fresh black cherries, made even better with the essence of forest floor and thyme notes, leaves you with a round, cherry finish.

Fully mature, with a sweet core of fresh black cherries, made even better with the essence of forest floor and thyme notes, leaves you with a round, cherry finish.

3,466 Views   Tasted
2000 Château Maucaillou  (Moulis en Médoc) 84
Not much left in the tank here, with more tart, than sweet fruits to accompany the tobacco, cedar, and leafy notes.

Not much left in the tank here, with more tart, than sweet fruits to accompany the tobacco, cedar, and leafy notes.

2,557 Views   Tasted