Château Grand Mayne 2016

“A wine must reflect its terroir, its origins. We strongly believe that the uniqueness of the vineyard’s location is fundamental in the conception of a great wine. There can never be a great wine without a great vineyard." Jean-Antoine & Damien. Grand Mayne is situated in the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru appellation. This Chateau embodies authenticity and classic simplicity, just like the facade of its 16th Century Chateau. Today, the estate has 17 hectares of vines, which have become the heart and soul of the operation.

Château Grand Mayne was classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé (A) in the Saint-Émilion classification of 1955. This prestigious classification recognizes the estate's exceptional quality and contribution to the reputation of Saint-Émilion wines. Despite its prestigious classification and reputation, Château Grand Mayne produces relatively limited quantities of wine each year. This exclusivity adds to the allure and desirability of its wines among collectors and enthusiasts.

Since 1934, the Nony family has presided over the Grand Mayne estate. Family ownership, originating at Jean Nony and continuing with Jean-Pierre and his wife Marie-Françoise, has resolutely graced the Château with excellence, helping to perpetuate the winemaking tradition of the estate. In addition to its family heritage and origin, Château Grand Mayne is also known for its unique terroir. Château Grand Mayne is situated on the limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion, which is known for its exceptional terroir and favorable viticultural conditions. The estate's vineyards benefit from a gentle slope that allows for excellent drainage and optimal sun exposure, contributing to the even ripening of the grapes. The soils of Château Grand Mayne are diverse and complex, consisting primarily of limestone with varying proportions of clay and sand. This unique soil composition imparts minerality, structure, and finesse to the wines, while also providing excellent water retention and nutrient uptake for the vines. 

The estate is also notable for its picturesque surroundings, with its 16th-century castle surrounded by more than 100,000 vines that cover the gentle southwest-facing slope. The estate's wines, made from a subtle blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, are distinguished by their fruity power, their elegant tension and their remarkable finesse. Known for their excellent aging potential, Grand Mayne wines continue to gain in accessibility while retaining their distinctive character.

"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." - Neal Martin, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, (04/28/2017, Issue 230), Ratings: 94-96, Drink: 2022-2045

"The 2016 Grand Mayne has a sensual, pure bouquet of lush crushed strawberry fruit mixed with raspberry and rose petals. The oak is very well integrated here, just oozing class. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent tannin, a fine bead of acidity and a smooth, velvety finish that beckons you back for another sip. This is a triumph, one of the best that Jean-Antoine Nony has overseen." - Neal Martin, Vinous, (01/24/2019), Ratings: 94, Drink: 2022-2045

"Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Grand Mayne features fragrant kirsch, redcurrant jelly and black plums scents with touches of garrigue, mossy bark and Sichuan pepper. Full-bodied, rich and densely laden with vibrant red and black fruits, it has a plush frame and very long, earth-laced finish." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, (11/30/2018, Interim Issue), Ratings: 94, Drink from: 2020-2034 

"The 2016 Château Grand Mayne is a beauty and could turn into a real superstar with 3-4 years of bottle age. This deep ruby-colored effort gives up lots of currant and cassis fruits as well as subtle new oak in its violet and mineral-driven aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, with fine tannins and impeccable balance, it’s seriously impressive. Give it a few years and it should keep for two decades or more." - Jeb Dunnuck, (03/01/2019), Ratings: 93