Château Franc Mayne 2012

Why on earth aren’t there more wines that offer juiciness and freshness, that are cheerful and tasty, yet also have enough substance and fire?

Lovely damson plum, cherry, raspberry and red currant fruit stretches out here, carried by lilting wood spice hints and a long, bramble-edged finish. Very fresh and engaging. Drink now through 2019. 2,250 cases made.

The 6 hectares of 30-year-old vines on this right bank estate are planted mainly to Merlot with about 10% Cabernet Franc. This classic, well-priced claret has aged well, showing savoury leather, cedar, oak and spice notes along with ripe plum fruit. It still has a few years ahead of it, but is lovely for mature drinking now.

Intense aromas and flavors of ripe red fruits and juicy plums with some cedar notes. This is a full-bodied red displaying firm tannins, fresh acidity and a fruity finish. A little short. Drink in 2017.

A big, burly wine, the 2012 Franc Mayne is endowed with striking texture and palate presence. Sweet dark cherries, plums, spices, smoke, new leather and menthol all flesh out in a full-bodied, voluptuous wine backed up with serious tannins that need time to soften. This is an especially virile Saint-Emilion, with all the elements in the right place.

Medium-bodied, lighter style of wine, dominated by red plums and cherries, with oak and earth. This won’t make old bones and will probably drink best on the young side.

Intense perfume of wild berries, cherry and cassis, elegantly built with mineral notes, ginger and spices. Good fruit density with well-judged proportions of acidity and extract, refreshing, long and vibrant with elegant fruit.

Deep purplish garnet, dense at the core, with a violet sheen on the rim. Peppery bouquet, with an almost fleeting hint of volatile acidity, subtle reductive note, dried plum skins. On the palate, sweet plum character, seeming slightly drawn out by the pronounced tannins along the sides of the back of the throat.

Deep purple-garnet, dense at the core, with lilac highlights on the rim. Peppery bouquet, with an almost fleeting hint of volatile acidity, subtle airy note, dried plum skins. On the palate, sweet plum character, drawn out by pronounced tannins along the sides at the back of the throat.

Velvety texture, fine, opulent bouquet, blackberries, black cherries, brown chocolate. Plumper, silkier palate with a creamy structure, fine sandy tannins, powerful, sweet aromatics, delicately bitter finish. 17/20 2019 - 2034

Brilliant ruby with open, racy fruit on the nose and palate; a more elegant wine than the estate’s 2009 and 2010.

Franc-Mayne is a supple, light wine, very much a wine from the plateau, with plenty of elegance and freshness, but not much power, which is normal on the plateau.

Purplish ruby red. Subtle, elegant bouquet. Graphite, dark chocolate, blackberry, blackcurrant. Elegant attack, smooth and fruity. Elegant body with good density. The tannins have power but also finesse. They are grainy and in harmony with the structure, which imparts freshness. The finish is also fruity, lively, and of good length. Wait. A fine success.

Lovely wine with a tasty palate. Medium length.

88–90. Barrel sample. There's lots of new wood here, making this wine intensely sweet-and-spicy in character. Soft in tannins, the wine is ripe and juicy, and frankly, delicious already.