Domaine de Maucaillou Margaux 2018

Domaine de Maucaillou is small with just 2.3 hectares of vineyard (about five and a half acres) which means that it is closely managed by the two sisters that own the property. It is situated in the heart of Margaux, perhaps the best known and most prestigious appellation of the Left Bank Bordeaux regions.

The fine gravel over mineral-rich clay soils are believed to be among the better soils of the region helping to provide the structure, perfume, flavours and silky texture for which Margaux is known. The wines are deep in colour and concentrated. The finesse, smoothness and refined fruity aromas make Margaux the "most feminine of the Médoc".

This wine is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, the dominance of the Cabernet Sauvignon making this a classic Left Bank Bordeaux wine. Typically for that region black fruit aromas and flavours dominate and there is some vanilla and spice from the 12 months spent ageing in oak barrels, also "cigar box" aromas which are again typical of the Left Bank wines of Bordeaux.

For this relatively young wine the tannins are surprisingly soft and smooth; they give the wine structure or backbone and potential for ageing but they are very nicely balanced by the fruit and the relatively high acidity. The black fruits dominate on the palate - blackcurrant and black cherries and last through a long finish. This wine will develop further in the next five years or so and savoury & earthy aromas and flavours will become more prominent but for the next couple of years you can enjoy the fruity and smooth character of this beautiful wine.