Château Franc Mayne 2015

Deep ruby; tight rim. Toast/coffee bean/cedar/truffle tones with a refined, lightish, fresh blackberry/raspberry aroma. The modern palate reflects the nose with clean, bold, darker fruit and a chalky finish with resolved tannins/texture. Quite bodied; balanced with 13.5% ABV. The grapes Merlot 90 % and Cabernet franc 10% on a limestone plateau with hillside clay and sand on clay are all handpicked, which points to fuller ripeness and structure. Barrel fermented(50% new); oak aged(50%);16 months of ageing; Michel Rolland was the consultant.

It is close to Châteaux Beau-Séjour Bécot and Grand Mayne; hence, some apparent resemblances. The coffee tones recall some of the vintages I tasted from modern Bordeaux wineries. Some opined that 2015 is the best vintage ever from this Chateau. This wine is of great value; it is a Grand Cru Classe. Scores are reasonably high: 94 Falstaff and 95RP. Other scores include 91 The Wine Independent and 91 Jeff Leve.

Neal Martin wrote for Wine Advocates, awarded it RP95 and said, 'The 2015 Franc-Mayne has a refined and detailed bouquet with blackberry, raspberry coulis and a touch of cedar emerging from the glass. This is a classy bouquet in the making. The palate is fresh and vibrant, with succulent red berry fruit overlaying a delicate lattice of tannin. Precise, focused and elegant without compromising the fruit, this is perhaps the best wine I have tasted from this estate. Bravo!

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (April 2016). Edited.