Both Moulis and Listrac have made grade progress over the past couple of decades and have emerged as important communes producing Bordeaux of great character and, generally, good value. Moulis has a surprising concentration of dedicated wine-makers and proprietors and the general style of these long-lived wines is rich, powerful and full-bodied. Listrac was known for its hard and tannic wines (and there are probably too many properties still leaning in this direction) but there are a number of locomotives who have shrugged off this negative style and, in these cases, the wines now are rugged and four-square with a powerful, earthy fruitiness.
Château Chasse-Spleen Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel, Moulis-en-Médoc A great favourite of hours, this Taillan-owned property is managed by Céline Villars, who has consistently been producing classed-growth quality wines. Always deep-coloured and seductively ripe, these are clarets with pure, fruit flavours and plenty of complexity, which is largely due to the average age of the vines being 35 years-old. The wines see no filtration and they are currently aged in 50% new oak. Along with Château Poujeaux, these are regarded as the finest wines of the Moulis appellation.
Château Fourcas-Dupré Cru Bourgeois Supérieur, Listrac From the map made by Belleyme, geographer to Louis XV, it appears that there was already a vineyard on the site of Fourcas Dupré; the estate is therefore at least two centuries old. Since 1967 it has been run with vigour and energy by the Pagès family. They make an expressive and attractive wine replete with notes of red and black fruit, mint, supple tannin and a smooth, spicy and toasty oak - from a year spent in oak, 20 to 25% of which is new.
Château Maucaillou Cru Bourgeois Supérieur, Moulis-en-Médoc
Château Maucaillou is a wonderful architectural spectacle, being a blend of Renaissance and 19th century styles. The château also now houses a wine museum.
Château Poujeaux Cru Bourgeois Supérieur, Moulis-en-Médoc Located in the heart of the Médoc, between Margaux and Saint-Julien, the Moulis appellation benefits from an exceptional terroir. Château Poujeaux has an uninterrupted vineyard of 52 hectares planted on the finest outcrops of Günz gravel, the ideal soil for the Great Classified Growths of the region.This is one of the best vineyards in Moulis-en-Médoc.