CHÂTEAU GRAND MAYNE

The 2016 Grand-Mayne is a very different wine from those of old when sometimes it could be pushed too much in the winery. Certainly, the addition of Louis Mitjavile, François's son, has had a positive impact upon Grand-Mayne in the last two or three years. This is very elegant and refined, displaying more terroir characteristics with a gorgeous herbal lift, almost as if owner Jean-Antoine Nony had used some stems! The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp acidity, almost Pomerol-like in style with more mineralité and refinement on the finish. This is a new style of Grand-Mayne, and frankly, it is one of the best I have tasted from this Saint Emilion estate. Drinking range: 2022 - 2045 Rating: 94-96 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2017)

Blackish crimson. Lots of ripe black fruits plus a bit of freshness. Quite zesty and appealing with a beginning, middle and end. Really quite successful and punchy. Lightly sandpapery tannins but long and well balanced. Really quite luscious. With an appetising saltiness on the end. Drinking range: 2023 - 2038 Rating: 17 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2017)

The dusty edge that this sports from the beginning lingers throughout, while the core of plum, anise and blackberry meanders through. It’s ripe but lacks some energy. Rating: 89-92 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2017)

Solid density of fruit and velvety tannins to this one. Medium to full body, chewy tannins and a fresh finish. Rating: 91-92 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2017)

This walks the line between extraction and freshness, with slick damson fruits and oak that stands up to attention, imparting a cinammon biscuit feel. It's contemporary and enjoyable, but just seems to speak of cellar more than vineyard. Drinking range: 2023 - 2040 Rating: 89 Jane Anson, Decanter (Apr 2017)

The 2016 Grand Mayne offers good potential. Sweet tobacco, herb and leather overtones give the succulent red cherry fruit attractive savory underpinnings. Hints of mocha and torrefaction appear later, adding further shades of nuance. The oak tannins are a bit aggressive at this stage, but all the elements are nicely balanced just the same. The 2016 is going to need a bit more time to come into its own, but even today it is quite promising. Rating: 89-92 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2017)

Another château that has made the most of this extraordinary red wine vintage, this is ripe, compact and serious, with fleshy tannins, waves of dark berry fruit, a hint of liquorice and stylish, aromatic oak. Drinking range: 2022 - 2028 Rating: 92 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (Apr 2017)