Château Franc Mayne 2011 – Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé

The nose is elegant, gourmand and offers a certain intensity as well as power. There are notes of fairly ripe cassis, crushed blackberry and more lightly crushed strawberry associated with a touch of sour cherry, liquorice, fine hints of cloves, cumin, pepper, sweet spices as well as a subtle hint of vanilla and tobacco. The palate is fruity, balanced, elegant, racy and offers juiciness, freshness, gourmandize, a tangy frame, tension, a slender side as well as a nice airy side. On the palate this wine expresses notes of quite ripe (but juicy) cassis, fresh / juicy Boysenberry and more slightly violet associated with touches of juicy / tangy currants, vanilla as well as hints of toast, toasted oak, cloves, cinnamon and fine hints of toasted almonds. Tannins are elegant and finely mellow. Good length. Sapidity and very discreetly saline. Presence of an imperceptible hint of good bitterness (cocoa) on the finish. A nice success! A nice ripe wine which offers a certain richness while retaining its freshness and its acidity (without neglecting a certain gourmandize).