Château Maucaillou

History

In 1875, J. Petit-Laroche built the current residence as a wedding gift, on the places known as "Maucaillou" and "Caubet" — a name that means "bad pebbles" in Old French, these gravelly lands deemed unsuitable for cereals actually proving to be an exceptional terroir for the vine. The estate was classified Cru Bourgeois in 1932, a distinction that he refused to renew in the 2003 classification (since cancelled). Since 1929, the property has belonged to the Dourthe family, whose wines have been rewarded in international competitions since 1889.

Château Maucaillou, family property of the Moulis-en-Médoc appellation, has belonged to the Dourthe family since 1929. Not eligible for the 1855 classification (created after 1875) and voluntarily withdrawn from that of the Crus Bourgeois, the estate proudly claims its independence, summarized by the maxim of Philippe Dourthe: "Grand Cru Classé, ne puis; Cru Bourgeois, ne deigne; Château Maucaillou, suis."

The Vineyard

The Moulis vineyard, the oldest in the Médoc (property titles attest to this from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries), covers 90 hectares (72 ha in AOC Moulis-en-Médoc, 18 ha in AOC Haut-Médoc) of Quaternary alluvial rumps from the Garon gravelly nappe of Güntz, at the origin of the great classified growths of the Médoc. These gravel with large shiny pebbles reflect the sun's rays on the bunches in summer, promoting their full maturity. The grape variety, very balanced, consists of Cabernet Sauvignon (52%), Merlot (41%) and Petit Verdot (7%).