Château Franc Mayne 2020

For a long time, it has been among the most consistent and stylistically faithful Saint-Émilion, and once again astonishes with its high fruit concentration, distinctive juiciness, and freshness. Guaranteed fun!

This has a pretty mix of violet and cassis laced into a darker plum core, while lively anise and black tea details add to the finish. Nice streamlined finish. Drink now through 2035. 1,600 cases made, 900 cases imported.

Juicy and so lively on the palate, this really is quite joyful, with a burst of strawberry, raspberry and red cherry fruit within softly chalky tannins and menthol edges. I love the ease of this, it's round and approachable with a good tannic frame and I adore the perfumed red fruits. It's perhaps not as big or broad as some, yet it's more refined despite the pronounced tannins. Sleek, saline and focused. A softer expression of St-Emilion and the 2020 vintage, but lots to like here.

Aromas of freshly crushed berries, dried herbs, violets and walnuts follow through to a medium body with fine-grained tannins and a juicy red-fruit character. Vivid finish. 100% merlot. Drink or hold.

The 2020 Franc-Mayne still has that rather “serious” bouquet that needs coaxing from the glass: blackberry and briary, with light undergrowth notes emerging over time. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiseled tannins, fresher and more tensile than it showed out of barrel, with a slightly powdery, mineral finish. This is very promising.

Spicy black cherries, smoke, flowers, cigar box, dark red fruits and espresso bean shine with ease in the perfume. Elegant, fresh, vibrant and refined, the wine is medium-bodied, lifted, and ends with ample minerality and dark chocolate-covered plums on the back end that keep on going. This could be the finest vintage of Franc Mayne ever produced. Drink from 2024–2045.

Deep dark ruby, purple reflections, opaque core, gentle brightening at the rim. Orange zest, ripe black cherries, nuances of plums, blackberries and nougat. Medium complexity, wild red berries, lively structure, spicy tannins, mineral, subtle tannin on the finish, offers uncomplicated drinking pleasure, a versatile food wine.

A pretty, floral, exotic 2020, the 2020 Château Franc Mayne has ample red and blue fruits as well as flowery incense, orange blossom, and sandalwood notes in a medium- to full-bodied, silky, elegant, already irresistible package. While it's not massive, it has terrific concentration and intensity, supple tannins, and a great finish. It's going to evolve gracefully for 15 years or more.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: Nice jammy, sweet, powerful bouquet, blackberry jam, cherry compote, chocolate, mocha, slight silage note. Velvety, finely opulent palate with sweet fruit, fine tannins, broad structure, powerful, sweet aromatics, plush finish.

Good jammy, sweet, powerful bouquet: blackberry jam, cherry compote, chocolate, mocha, a hint of silage. Velvety, finely opulent palate with sweet fruit, fine tannins, broad structure, powerful sweet aromatics, plush finish. 17/20 2025 - 2038

A good quality Franc Mayne, with a lovely balance of bright berry fruit, a kick of freshness and chalky, slate-tinged, scraping tannins. An excellent example of this wine. Thomas Savare is the owner, and this was the last year with director Martine Cazeneuve in charge before retirement. Winemaker Sophie Mage previously worked with Artemis Estates in the Rhône, ageing in a mix of new oak barrels, large wooden casks, amphoras and ovoid concrete vats. Thomas Duclos has been the consultant since 2018.

The 2020 Franc Mayne, 100% Merlot, is deep garnet-purple in color. Compelling mocha, licorice, and smoked meat notes emerge from the glass, leading to a core of plum preserves, black cherry compote, and black raspberries. The full-bodied palate delivers mouth-coating black fruits with loads of savory accents and alluring freshness, supported by soft, approachable tannins, finishing with an energetic lift.

92-93

The nose flexes its muscles a little, yet with plenty of class, offering aromas of dark fruit, dark chocolate, spices, and elegant oak. On the palate, the wine shows real charm with a pure, energetic, fresh and digestible juice, thanks to agile yet persistent tannins.

Franc Mayne’s bouquet reveals itself with finesse and precision. It bridges the charm of Merlot and freshness. The wine shows breadth, a subtle mouthfeel, and firm, fine-grained tannins that lend character to the whole, together with its acid structure. A wine of temperament that deserves a bit of development, but above all stands out for its harmony and the freshness of its finish.

The nose is fruity and elegant, offering lovely power (with finesse), controlled richness, subtlety, depth, and an attractive aromatic palette. It reveals notes of vibrant blackberry, fleshy blackcurrant, and, more delicately, juicy purple plum, alongside touches of dark chocolate and cardamom, with hints of crushed raspberry, fine hints of green cardamom, caramelization, and a discreet touch of Cubeb pepper. The palate is fruity, elegant, and balanced, showing lovely richness (with delicacy), power, an airy character, creaminess, flesh, a restrained richness, a discreetly tight grain, and energy. On the palate, the wine expresses notes of juicy blackberry, crushed small black fruits, and, more lightly, bright/tangy raspberry, accompanied by touches of juicy black plum, lily, graphite, cardamom, as well as hints of dark chocolate and black tea, with discreet hints of black olive and a subtle hint of caramelization. The tannins are well managed, elegant, racy, and supple. A slight chew on the finish/persistence.

Dark, intense colour. Very aromatic nose with ripe fruit. The palate has a delicate texture and a supple, melting body, stretching out on rather gentle, even fragrant tannins. This cru is changing its style. Good length. This cru is changing its style. For the past two vintages, it has shown a more nuanced, less harsh palate structure than in the past.