Winemaker Notes
Blend: 75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Blackberries, black olives and blueberries with crushed-stone character on both the nose and palate. It’s medium-bodied with chewy tannins and a creamy texture. Extremely well-made. Best after 2030.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2022 Château Grand Mayne checks in as 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, and it hit 14.5% alcohol, which is well with normal ranges. Its deep ruby/purple hue is followed by a concentrated, richly textured, balanced wine that has ample chocolate, red and black fruit, subtle leather, graphite, and sappy herbs and floral nuances. With medium to full body, ripe tannins, and outstanding length, it's beautifully done and has a terrific mix of finesse, elegance, and concentration.
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Wine Enthusiast
Bold black fruits and ripe tannins show well in this wine with its hints of chocolate. It is a structured wine, the toast aroma showing the wood aging. Drink the wine from 2028.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
More oaky and firm than it was during the en primeur tasting, the 2022 Grand Mayne reveals an oaky, introverted bouquet of oak, spices, espresso roast and dark berries. Medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated, it has a fleshy core of fruit and an assertive, youthful tannic frame that segues into a long yet firm and somewhat dry finish. This is a blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc.
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.