Château Maucaillou

Estate overview

Château Maucaillou is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Moulis-en-Médoc. The property is owned by the Dourthe family, with Pascal Dourthe serving as Chairman of the Management Board. Benoit Bouchonneau is the cellar master.

History and philosophy

The history of Château Maucaillou began in 1875 with the construction of the château by J. Petit-Laroche and the establishment of the vineyard. The Dourthe family entered the estate's history in 1925 (or 1929 according to some sources) upon acquiring the property. At that time, the vineyard covered around 1.5 to 3 hectares. Over the decades, the estate expanded, reaching 20 hectares in 1967 and 32 hectares in 1984. In 2007, Philippe Dourthe—who notably developed a bespoke vinification method in 1982—handed over the property to his children: Caroline, Pascal, and Magali.

A museum dedicated to the arts and crafts of vine and wine was inaugurated at the château in 1987. The estate is a member of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux.

Appellations

Château Maucaillou produces wines under several appellations, with Moulis-en-Médoc as its flagship appellation, alongside Haut-Médoc and Bordeaux supérieur.

Practical information

Château Maucaillou is located in the Quartier de la Gare, 33480 Moulis-en-Médoc. The estate can be reached by telephone on +33 5 56 58 01 23 and by email at chateau@maucaillou.com.

The estate welcomes visitors for tours and tastings. Tasting room opening hours are as follows: from 1 May to 30 September, open Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 14:00 to 19:00. From 2 January to 30 April and from 1 October to 31 December, opening hours are Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 14:00 to 18:00.

The château offers a range of wine tourism activities, including visits to its 700 m² Musée des Arts et Métiers de la Vigne et du Vin, guided cellar tours, workshops, and tastings of three wines with a complimentary engraved glass. Bed and breakfast accommodation (chambres d'hôtes) and guest table dining (table d'hôtes) are also available. The estate can accommodate groups of up to 210 people, welcomes pets, and provides tours in French, English, and Spanish. Activities such as "Yoga & Wine" are also available. The château can host traditional Médoc lunches and assist in arranging visits to other estates in the Médoc. The property is accessible by train, stopping at Moulis station.

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The vineyard (terroir)

The vineyard of Château Maucaillou spans a planted area of 90 hectares, entirely dedicated to red grape varieties. The soils consist primarily of Günzian Garonne gravel, alongside clay-limestone parcels. The average vine age is approximately 35 years. The grape varieties are led by Cabernet Sauvignon (52%), followed by Merlot (41%) and Petit Verdot (7%). The estate does not purchase external grapes and is certified HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale).

Key cuvées

The estate's grand vin is Château Maucaillou, a red wine whose blend varies by vintage but is built predominantly around Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, complemented by Petit Verdot. This wine is aged in oak barrels for 14 to 16 months, with 30% to 40% new oak.

The estate also produces Le N°2 Maucaillou, its second wine. Another cuvée, Maucaillou Haut-Médoc, is produced under the Haut-Médoc appellation. In addition, LE B PAR MAUCAILLOU is a vat-aged red wine produced under the Bordeaux supérieur appellation, while TENTATION PAR MAUCAILLOU is a sparkling white wine crafted under the Crémant-de-Bordeaux appellation.

Vinification and ageing

The vinification method at Château Maucaillou involves an initial low-temperature phase during the first few days, tailored to extract fresh fruit aromas. Temperatures are subsequently raised towards the end of fermentation to extract fine tannins and colour. Malolactic fermentation immediately follows alcoholic fermentation. Ageing for the estate's top wines, such as Château Maucaillou, takes place in oak barrels for 14 to 16 months, with 30% to 40% new oak.