Chateau Franc Mayne 2009
-
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Aromas of blueberries and blackberries, follow through to a full body, with soft and velvety tannins and a caressing textured finish. Very pretty already. Try in 2016.
-
Wine Spectator
This gushes up front with dark fig, blueberry cobbler and steeped black currant fruit, showing just enough racy graphite cut on the back end for balance. Espresso and fig bread notes hang in the background. Best from 2013 through 2022.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Layers of ripe, cedary black currant and black cherry fruit are endearing and substantial in this opulent, medium to full-bodied wine, which displays notes of underbrush and roasted herbs that give the wine a Provencal nuance to its overall St.-Emilion personality. Already forward and drinkable, this wine should continue to drink nicely for up to 15 or more years.
Other Vintages
2021-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb - Decanter
- Vinous
-
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb - Decanter
-
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine
Their St. Emilion vineyard is planted 90% to Merlot and 10% to Cabernet Franc. The avereage age of the vines os 30 years of age with a terrior of clay, limestone and sand soils.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Marked by its historic fortified village—perhaps the prettiest in all of Bordeaux, the St-Émilion appellation, along with its neighboring village of Pomerol, are leaders in quality on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. These Merlot-dominant red wines (complemented by various amounts of Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon) remain some of the most admired and collected wines of the world.
St-Émilion has the longest history in wine production in Bordeaux—longer than the Left Bank—dating back to an 8th century monk named Saint Émilion who became a hermit in one of the many limestone caves scattered throughout the area.
Today St-Émilion is made up of hundreds of independent farmers dedicated to the same thing: growing Merlot and Cabernet Franc (and tiny amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon). While always roughly the same blend, the wines of St-Émilion vary considerably depending on the soil upon which they are grown—and the soils do vary considerably throughout the region.
The chateaux with the highest classification (Premier Grand Cru Classés) are on gravel-rich soils or steep, clay-limestone hillsides. There are only four given the highest rank, called Premier Grand Cru Classés A (Chateau Cheval Blanc, Ausone, Angélus, Pavie) and 14 are Premier Grand Cru Classés B. Much of the rest of the vineyards in the appellation are on flatter land where the soils are a mix of gravel, sand and alluvial matter.
Great wines from St-Émilion will be deep in color, and might have characteristics of blackberry liqueur, black raspberry, licorice, chocolate, grilled meat, earth or truffles. They will be bold, layered and lush.