Château Grand Mayne 2020

Punchy and vibrant, this shows such style straight away, clean and crystalline, a smooth core with just grainy tannins providing the weight and width. Extremely complete, a little spiced right now, with some angles overall, but lovely vibrant and concentrated blackcurrant and plum fruit with medicinal minty, wet stone, pencil lead aspects and lovely floral touches. Nice drive and presentation from an estate I love in St-Emilion. A dark, brooding style but clean, forward and linear.

The complex nose, with its array of flowers, espresso, black cherries, black raspberries and black plums with a side of mint, draws you into the glass. But it is on the palate, with its freshness, silky tannins and layers of mineral-edged, vibrant, sweet fruits, closing on notes of plums and salty dark chocolate, that seals the deal. This could be the best vintage of Grand Mayne ever produced! Drink from 2025–2050.

I loved the 2020 Château Grand Mayne. This medium- to full-bodied, concentrated, incredibly satisfying Saint-Emilion offers up ample mulled red and black fruits, some loamy earth, iron, and dried flower nuances, ripe tannins, and plenty of mid-palate depth. I still think 2015 is the top vintage, but this is clearly in the same league as 2015, 2018, and 2019, and it's going to drink brilliantly over the coming 15–20 years.

Open blueberry-scented bouquet with blackberry jelly, lilac and light tobacco. On the generous palate, a creamy texture, wonderful extract concentration, caressing tannins and a dense body. The aromatically long finish offers a potpourri of red and blue berries, licorice and tarragon.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: fresh, fruity, fragrant, silky bouquet, strawberries, pralines, mint, fine herbs, nougat. Delicate, fresh, powerful palate with intense, fine fruit, diverse, fresh aromatics, fine tannins, delicately creamy structure, long, fresh finish.

Fresh, fruity, fragrant, silky bouquet with strawberries, pralines, mint, fine herbs, nougat. Delicate, fresh and powerful palate with concentrated, precise fruit, diverse, fresh aromatics, fine tannins, a gently creamy texture, and a long, fresh finish. 18/20 2025 - 2048

The 2020 Grand Mayne is a blend of 73% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, it opens with cedary wafts over a core of stewed black plums, boysenberry preserves, and Chinese five spice, plus a hint of unsmoked cigars. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers a solid backbone of chewy, oak-inspired tannins with a great core of black fruits and savory layers, finishing a little woody at this youthful stage. It needs time!

91-92

The 2020 likewise shows thoroughly ripe grapes, resulting in opulent richness on the palate, nicely balanced by a fresh finish. An ambitious, polished Saint-Émilion, well-crafted for aging.

Beautiful deep red. Moderately intense nose with ripe fruit. Smooth, round palate, very fruity, with a fairly strong oak presence on the finish. Medium length.

Damson, vibrant black cherry, cassis purée, cocoa bean and liquorice. This is concentrated, with tannins that have shoulders, and an appealing purity of fruit expression. 15ha, Michel Rolland consultant, owned by Jean-Antoine Nony, now joined by his brother Damien. 41hl/ha yield, 50% new oak for ageing.