Château Maucaillou, the art of standing the test of time

Is there a historic anecdote or a key decision which symbolises this longevity?

Château Maucaillou boasts a history of transmission which has endured one hundred and fifty years.Founded in 1875 by wine merchant Mr. Petit-Laroche, the 3-hectare estate was built close to Moulis train station, facilitating the shipping of wines to Bordeaux. Inspired by the style of Arcachon villas, the residence was reportedly a wedding gift to his wife, thus adding a family-oriented and sentimental dimension to the Estate.

1929 marked a decisive turning point with the acquisition of the estate by my great-great uncle André and great-grandfather Roger Dourthe. They subsequently developed their activity as wine merchants (via Maison Dourthe) and winegrowers, firmly establishing Maucaillou in the Médoc landscape.

The arrival of my grandfather Philippe Dourthe in the 1960s signalled a real revolution. He significantly modernised winemaking methods, raised the quality of the wines to an international standard and considerably extended the vineyards, from 30 to 90 hectares. This period was underpinned by one crucial decision – to resolutely invest in innovation while remaining faithful to the terroir.

In 2006, the estate was passed down to Philippe’s three children, particularly his son Pascal Dourthe, who injected a new impetus geared towards continuous improvements and organising the wine range and distribution methods. I joined the family adventure in 2020 alongside my uncle with the aim to perpetuate the Estate’s wonderful history, representing no less than the fourth generation.

How has Château Maucaillou successfully combined tradition and innovation? Can you give us an example of a recent change that has marked the history of the Estate?

From the outset, our family has been dedicated to producing high-quality and affordable wines that constantly offer consumers the best value for money, a philosophy praised by Robert Parker in the 1980s.

These high standards have been passed down from one generation to the next, steered by dedicated figures with a shared ambition to preserve a living heritage while developing their own unique vision.

In recent years, Pascal Dourthe has undertaken major developments at the estate. The significant restructuring of the technical team, as well as the choice to hire a consulting oenologist illustrate our desire to continuously fine-tune how our wines express the Moulis terroir while remaining faithful to our family vision. Likewise, the proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon has been considerably increased since 2021 to add elegance and precision while anticipating future challenges due to climate change.

This 150th anniversary is obviously a symbolic milestone. What are the specific characteristics of this vintage and how does it reflect the Maucaillou spirit? Have you implemented any particular initiatives to mark this event?

In a bid to celebrate this anniversary vintage, meticulous efforts were put into producing 2025 Château Maucaillou, with rigorous plot-by-plot selection to ensure that only the estate’s finest historic terroirs were included. Special attention was also paid during pressing, which was carried out with extreme precision. The wines are aged in fine-grained French barrels to preserve the elegance and purity of the fruit while adding depth and complexity.

To mark this anniversary, we decided to keep our emblematic label, cherished by our fans, and add the wording “150ème Vendange 1875-2025” (150th Harvest, 1875-2025) to highlight the historic roots and longevity of the Estate.

Alongside these efforts dedicated to the first wine, we wanted to push our high standards one step further by producing a little-known micro-cuvée which is the result of even more rigorous selection and aged exclusively in extra fine-grained barrels from the Demptos cooperage. This decision represents the continuation of our exclusive, historic collaborations with this cooperage, maintained by my great-grandfather and grandfather. Produced in very limited quantities, this cuvée has belonged to the Dourthe family up until this day.

How would you describe this 2025 Vintage?

Every vintage is different in Bordeaux. 2025 was characterised by an early and generally beneficial growing season. After a mild, dry winter, vine growth unfolded serenely in spring, with quick and homogeneous flowering. A hot, dry summer ensued, resulting in controlled water stress propitious to wonderful concentration, and was followed by welcome rainfall in late August, conducive to optimum ripeness. This triggered an early harvest, from 8 September onwards, in very good conditions.

In the glass, the 2025 vintage boasts a lovely deep colour with purplish highlights. Precise and expressive aromas of ripe black fruit (blackcurrant, blackberry) are unveiled on the nose, enhanced by floral notes and delicately spicy hints. Swirling in the glass reveals more complex nuances of graphite and slightly toasty notes.

The palate is remarkably well-balanced, starting out full-bodied and silky with perfectly integrated fine tannins. The freshness, which was preserved despite the hot vintage, adds tension and length, while the longlasting, harmonious finish suggests wonderful ageing potential.

The 2025 Vintage is already easy to drink thanks to its smooth texture and delicious flavours yet retains its excellent structure and precision, true to the Maucaillou style. All in all, an attractive and ambitious vintage, which will leave a lasting mark on the history of the Estate.