Château Maucaillou takes its name from the phrase “mauvais cailloux,” meaning bad stones, which is how the local farmers described the soil in the Middle Ages. Thin and filled with gravel, the soil was considered poor for growing grains. By the 16th century, however, the land had proven itself excellent for grape vines, and the Moulis vineyard of Château Maucaillou is documented as one of the oldest vineyards in the Médoc. The Dourthe family have been important wine merchants in Bordeaux since the mid-19th century, also acquiring wine estates starting in the early 20th century. They acquired Château Maucaillou in 1929 and have continually added property and improvements. Today the estate includes 157 acres and is still owned and operated by the Dourthe family, who also own the CVBG wine trading company. The flagship wine is Château Maucaillou, which Robert M. Parker Jr. has complimented for being “impeccably made in a rather robust, tannic, concentrated style but with a certain silkiness…”