Château Maucaillou 2018

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Maucaillou has a rather rustic nose of prunes, iodine and tobacco leaf, plus medicinal/bandaid undertones. The palate is medium-bodied, fairly chewy and hard, with very little fruit and a bitterness on the finish.

Coffee, toast, liquorice and sweet spices with dark fruit on the nose. Chewy and a bit pushed on the palate, dense and massy, not so lively, more a deep, heady take on the vintage. Smooth though with good lift. Nice juiciness on the mid-palate, strawberry and red cherry, only the texture takes over a little and becomes a bit filling, losing some of the nuance and delicacy to the sun-kissed fruit and spiced edges. Needs more time or a good decant.

Some earthy notes of bark and soil on the nose, along with blackcurrant and licorice. It’s medium-bodied with firm, succulent tannins. Juicy. Try from 2023.

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.

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.

Dark ruby, violet tints, delicate bright rim. Delicate nougat, sweet forest berry jam, candied orange zest, mineral touch. Medium body, tight, tight-knit, fine cassis, supporting tannins, chocolatey touch on the finish, good development potential.

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.

Kunz barrel sample 19: floral, slender bouquet, red cherries, currants, old wood. Light, slender palate with delicate fruit, sandy tannins, sweet aromatics, firm-edged structure, light finish.

Floral, slender bouquet, red cherries, blackcurrants, old wood. Light, slender palate with delicate fruit, sandy tannins, sweet aromatics, firm structure, light finish. 16/20 2023 - 2032

The wine exudes intense berry aromas—blackcurrant, blueberry—and gentle spices. The palate is ultra‑silky and refined.

Dark color. Fruity nose, with leafy nuances. Appetizing on the attack, the wine simplifies mid-palate and finishes austere.

Perfumed with a floral character, this is already a balanced wine. Tannins and fruit harmonize with a vanilla edge from the wood aging. This wine should be ready from 2025.