2018 Maucaillou
Estimated value
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Tasting notes
The 2018 Maucaillou has a very characterful and floral (maybe too floral) nose that masks the fruit and terroir expression at the moment. The palate is well balanced with grippy tannins and quite fresh on the entry. The edgy, graphite-tinged finish feels just a little green around the edges; I wonder if that will become more noticeable with bottle age. Three bottles tasted with consistent notes.
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
A charming Moulis with plenty to love, the 2018 Château Maucaillou offers lots of cherry and mulberry fruits as well as cedar and spice nuances, medium-bodied richness, some chewy tannins, and plenty of character. It's already drinking nicely, and I'd be happy to enjoy a bottle any time over the coming 5-7 years. I expect it's a solid value.
The 2018 Maucaillou is a rich, heady wine, just as it was from barrel. A blast of dark cherry fruit, cedar, licorice and tobacco hits the palate, all wrapped up by firm tannins that are a bit imposing at this stage. Give the 2018 a few years in bottle. There's a lot of wine here.
About the producer
Owned by the négociant Dourthe, this Moulis property has 87 hectares of vines today (with 67 added by Philippe Dourthe since 1967). Managed and made by an expert team, the quality here is hardly surprising.