Château Franc-Mayne, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé (Bordeaux, France) 2022 ($46)

Saint-Émilion is among the most productive of all Bordeaux appellations and, with hundreds of producers, a great place to look for value among red Bordeaux. I am very pleased with the quality of many 2022 Bordeaux bottlings and was especially impressed with the 2022 Château Franc-Mayne. Grown in clay-limestone soils near the village of Saint-Émilion, the Merlot grapes reached perfect ripeness in 2022. Château Franc-Mayne is one of sixty or so estates with the Grand Cru Classé designation. Their 2022 shows a classic Saint-Émilion style with pure black cherry, blackberry and red cherry fruit aromas enhanced by elements of cocoa, violets, herbs and oak. The flavors are round, elegant and lifted, with the plush black and red fruits interwoven with the cocoa, herb, vanilla and spice tones. The wine exhibits supple texture and a lilt – a refreshing vitality on the palate that makes it compelling. I have tasted new releases of this wine for many vintages, and this is clearly the best Franc-Mayne I have ever tried. For the price, it is a spectacularly good Saint-Émilion.
95 Wayne Belding