Château Maucaillou 2020

Perfumed and highly charged on the nose, smells quite heady with ripe fruit and floral touches with coffee, tobacco and liquorice. Smooth and succulent, a nice burst of high acidity and juiciness. Tannins soften quite quickly, settling into the sides of the mouth, giving structure and some tension, the minerality just taking over some of the fruit at the moment, leaving a salty, mineral, savoury, creamy, chalky and toasted edge on the finish. Needs a good hour’s decanting to drink soon, but it’s a delicate beauty.

This has aromas of plums, balsamic, currants and paprika. Medium-bodied, fresh and bright with sinewy tannins and a savory, salty finish. Balanced. Drink from 2023.

Full bottle 1,293 g. Cask sample taken 6 April. 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 6.5% Petit Verdot, 2.5% Cabernet Franc. Deep cherry red with a smudgy rim. Smells warm and ripe, blackberry and damson rather than cassis, with a lovely hint of fragrance – violets? – from the Petit Verdot. Smooth, deep tannins, dry but not drying; dark-fruited with a kick of red-fruit sweetness on the finish and a very slight charry note. Oak present but not dominant. (JH)

The 2020 Maucaillou never really shifts out of first gear on the nose despite aeration, a bit dusty and needing more vim. The palate is simple, smooth and pastille-like, but lacks real complexity and there's very little grip on the finish. Early-drinking. Tasted twice.

Earthy, with a floral touch to the plums, herbs, tobacco and espresso on the nose and palate. The finish is focused on its core of sweet, red cherries and spice, which comes in with the endnote. Drink from 2023-2034.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, delicate ochre rim. Subtle clove, ripe plum, dark forest berries, a hint of cassis, some cardamom. Medium body, fine nougat, ripe cherries, integrated tannins, savoury finish, chocolaty echo.

Fresh red currant, herbal notes, mild oak, medium weight with youthful and grippy tannin, rather long but a bit on the vegetal side, should certainly improve from further ageing.

Coming from the Moulis appellation, the 2020 Château Maucaillou is a forward, charming, incredibly complex beauty delivering both red and black fruits, some tobacco and leafy herb notes, nicely integrated oak, soft tannins, and solid length on the finish. I don't see this making old bones, but it's going to deliver lots of pleasure over the coming 7–8 years.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: red-berried, slender, silky bouquet, red cherries, wood, smoke. Firm, slender, light palate with delicate fruit, fine sandy tannins, light aromatics, slender finish.

Red-berry, slender, silky bouquet, red cherries, wood, smoke. Firm, slender, light palate with delicate fruit, fine sandy tannins, light aromatics, slender finish. 16/20 2024 - 2035

Black cherry, bilberry, cinnamon and ground coffee, a touch of white pepper spice, bright and vivid: this is an excellent Maucaillou. It’s serious with firm tannins, in the spirit of the vintage, without the generosity of 2018 or 2019, but the previously overly tight concentration has eased with ageing, and this is an upscore from En Primeur. Tasted twice. 72ha, 70% new oak, 21hl/ha yield.

The 2020 Maucaillou is deep garnet-purple in color. It gallops out with energetic blackcurrant and kirsch scents, plus suggestions of bay leaves, pencil shavings, and tilled soil. Light to medium-bodied, the palate delivers restrained, muscular fruit with bright acidity and a chewy finish.

An aromatic palette with powerful fruity aromas that carry onto the palate, featuring notes of Morello cherry and elderberry. Elegant and poised, the wine shows lovely freshness, with supple, well-balanced tannins and a delicate finish.

Château Maucaillou, totaling 72 ha, belongs to Pascal and Magali Dourthe. The 18-month maturation includes 50% to 70% new barrels, depending on the vintage. The wine reveals itself with delicate precision. It shows nuances from the élevage, but the fruity notes clearly take the lead. Well supported by its tannins, the wine is elegant, slender, and harmonious.

91–93. Barrel Sample. Attractively perfumed, this is a ripe wine that has the beginnings of striking black currant fruits. The tannins already show a balanced character, merging with the fruit. As it ages, this will turn into a very complete wine.