2020 Château Grand Mayne, Grand Cru Classé St-Emilion

Always a big wine; this is a site that encourages big tannins and once you embrace that quality, you willingly submit to the knitted-down cassis and bilberry fruits. Touches of bitter coffee as it opens, this is powerful but enjoyable and does a good job of pulling up at the last minute, offering crushed stone and juice. A yield of 41hl/ha, 50% new oak for ageing.

The 2020 Grand Mayne is focused and delineated on a nose that offers plenty of finely chiseled scents of black cherry, bilberry, crushed rock and incense, opulent but beautifully controlled. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe black fruit on the entry, and laced with graphite, touches of tobacco and minerals. From beginning to end, this 2020 displays wonderful tension, and there is a sense of refinement on the finish that I think has only manifested in vintages of Grand Mayne over the last 5–6 years. This delivers, or perhaps overdelivers considering the price.

Firm and muscular with a solid tannic frame. Builds gradually to a persistent finish. Fruit present but aromatically less captivating – berry fruit with a hint of mint and a charry note from the oak.