Moulis-en-Medoc is a small village in the Haut-Medoc district of Bordeaux in south-western France. It gives its name to the Moulis appellation, which covers red wines produced from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Carmenere, Petit Verdot and Malbec.
To qualify for the AOC Moulis title, wines must be made from grapes grown in specific plots in the parishes of Arcins, Avensan, Castelnau, Cussac, Lamarque and Listrac. These grapes must come from vineyards with planting densities of between 6500 and 10,000 plants per hectare (2631–4048 per acre), carefully controlled with specified vine-management techniques. The yield must not exceed 45hL per hectare and the resulting wines must reach a minimum alcohol level of 10.5%.
The soils around Moulis do not benefit from the large proportions of gravel found in Margaux or Graves, but that which does exist is mixed with clay and limestone, allowing for the production of some high-quality wines. Cabernet Sauvignon, in particular, responds well to the free-draining qualities of gravel soils and produces some well-respected wine in Moulis.
While there are no classed growths in either Moulis-en-Medoc or neighboring Listrac-Medoc, there are high-quality wines made under each appellation which offer a similar style to those produced by their more prestigious neighbors. The eastern edges of Moulis are bordered by the northern edge of Margaux and thus benefit from the all-important terroir. A concentration of chateaux around the village of Poujeaux produce the best Moulis-en-Medoc wines, including the famous Chateau Chasse-Spleen.
