Learn everything about Chateau Franc Mayne St. Emilion with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairing tips. Learn all the best vintages, the history of the property, and information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles
Chateau Franc Mayne History, Overview
While most of the story for Chateau Franc Mayne begins in the 1700s, there are ruins on the estate that date back to the ancient Romans who were the first people to cultivate vines on the property. Over the years, Chateau Franc Mayne has had more than its share of owners.
More recently, the large insurance group AXA-Millesimes bought it in 1984. In June 1996, the AXA group sold Chateau Franc Mayne to a Belgian entrepreneur, Georgy Fourcroy who later sold Chateau Franc Mayne to the Laviale family in 2004. The Laviale family also own Chateau Vieux Maillet in Pomerol and Chateau de Lussac in the Lussac St. Emilion satellite appellation.
One of the first decisions made by the new owners was to change to make up of the vineyard and thus, the blend of the wine. Previous vintages were often 100% Merlot. Starting with the 2004 vintage, the blend began to include 10%, Cabernet Franc.
Chateau Franc Mayne, which is one of the 17 different, Bordeaux producers with the word, Franc in the title, was owned and managed by a fashionable couple, Griet Laviale and Herve Laviale until January 2018, when they sold the estate to Jean-Pierre Savare.
Jean Pierre Savare was already quite familiar with Franc Mayne as was a minority investor in the vineyard, along with the Cazeneuve family, the owners of Chateau Paloumey in the Haut Medoc appellation.
Under the control of Griet Laviale and Herve Laviale, Chateau Franc Mayne was completely renovated, from top to bottom. The very modern, energy-efficient, sleek cellars were created by the noted architects Lanoire and Courrian.
When you are at the property, ask to see the underground, limestone caves, and cellars, they are worth your time to visit.
Chateau Franc Mayne is more than a Right Bank vineyard. It’s also a charming hotel in Saint Emilion, located not far from the village. The hotel is interesting as each room is unique.
They have a total of 10 rooms and all of them are distinctly different. Each guest was built with a specific theme in mind. There is even a treehouse in the middle of their St. Emilion vineyard you can stay in.
Chateau Franc Mayne Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking
The 7-hectare vineyard of Chateau Franc Mayne is planted to 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The estate started added more Cabernet Franc to their vineyards in 2018. It is the goal of the estate to continue slowly adding more Cabernet to the vineyard overtime. Chateau Franc-Mayne was certified organic in 2022.
The terroir is clay, limestone, and clay with sandy soils on sloping hillsides which gradually reach 75 meters at their peak. On average, the vines are kept at 30 years of age. The vineyard is planted to a density of 6,000 vines per hectare.
The vineyard is located just outside of the village. They have vines that are quite close to Chateau Grand Mayne, as you can probably surmise, from the name. They are also located not too far from Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot.
To produce the wine of Chateau Franc Mayne, vinification takes place in a combination of 5 stainless steel tanks and 5 wood vats. The steel vats range in size with 2, 60 hectoliter vats, 2, 50 Hectoliters and one 40 hectoliter vat.
The wood vats range in size as well with 2, 50 hectoliter wood tanks, 2, 40 hectoliter tanks, and one 28 hectoliter tank. The smallest vat at 28 hectoliters is always reserved for Cabernet Franc.
Malolactic fermentation takes place in a combination of barrel, vat, and tank. The wine is aged in an average of 85% new, French oak barrels for between 12 to 16 months, depending on the quality and character of the vintage. Michel Rolland is the consultant.
The best vintages of Chateau Franc Mayne are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2010, 2009, and 2005.
Chateau Franc Mayne also produces a second wine, Les Cedres de Franc Mayne. On average, the annual production of Chateau Franc Mayne is slightly less than 3,000 cases of wine per year.
When to Drink Chateau Franc Mayne, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Chateau Franc Mayne is better with at least 4-6 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage. Chateau Franc Mayne is best enjoyed in the first 5-18 years of life.
Young vintages can be decanted for about 1 hour to 90 minutes. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.
Serving Chateau Franc Mayne with Wine and Food Pairings
Chateau Franc Mayne is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.
Chateau Franc Mayne is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Franc Mayne is also good when matched with Asian dishes, rich fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.
Château Franc-Mayne Wine Tasting Notes
22 Vintages 100,138 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating
2023
Château Franc-Mayne (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
The wine is rich, supple, long, and fresh with a depth of flavor, strong floral edge, and vibrant, fruit-filled finish accented with licorice, and chocolate notes. The wine was made from 100% Merlot. Drink from 2027-2045. 92-94 Pts. 667 Views Tasted May 4, 2024 |
2022
Château Franc-Mayne (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
The wine is loaded with lusciously-textured, black cherries, licorice, cocoa, and espresso beans. The wine is rich, supple, long, and fresh with a depth of flavor, freshness, lift and elegance and a salty mineral essence in the finish. The wine sports a new, updated label. The wine was made from 100% Merlot. Drink from 2026-2045. 94-96 Pts. 2,054 Views Tasted May 8, 2023 |
2021
Château Franc-Mayne (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Savory herbs, black cherries and spice crowd into the nose. On the palate, the wine is soft, creamy and fresh, leaving you with sweet, red fruits and peppery spice on the backend. Things are definitely on the upswing here. You can enjoy this on release. Drink from 2024-2038. 295 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2024Flowers and black cherries come through on the nose. Soft, round and polished, with a nice sweetness to the fruits on the medium-bodied palate, and in the soft, creamy finish leaving you with a solid wave of cherries and dark chocolate. Things are definitely on the upswing here. Drink from 2024-2040. 90-92 1,139 Views Tasted May 20, 2022 |
2020
Château Franc-Mayne (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Spicy black cherries, smoke, flowers, cigar box, dark red fruits and espresso bean shine with ease in the perfume. Elegant, fresh, vibrant and refined, the wine is medium-bodied, lifted and ends with ample minerality and dark chocolate covered plums on the backend that keep on going. This could be the finest vintage of Franc Mayne ever produced. Drink from 2024-2045. 2,111 Views Tasted Mar 21, 2023Flowers, spice, wet earth, cigar box, dark red fruits and spice come through on the nose with ease. On the medium-bodied palate. the wine is fresh, sweet, juicy, refined and elegant, finishing with soft, polished, silky red fruits. 91-93 Pts 1,778 Views Tasted May 20, 2021 |
2019
Château Franc-Mayne (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Produced from 100% Merlot, the wine opens with floral, cocoa, licorice, smoke and plum aromatics. The medium-bodied wine is elegant, fresh and energetic, with a soft, polished texture that is perfect for all of its layers of sweet, ripe, fresh, red fruits and chocolate on the palate and in the finish. Drink from 2023-2036. 1,357 Views Tasted Mar 29, 2022Medium-bodied, soft and refined, with sweet, juicy, dark red fruits, licorice and salty tannins. This should drink well with just a few years of bottle age. 90-92 Pts 2,295 Views Tasted Jun 8, 2020 |
2018
Château Franc-Mayne (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Medium-bodied, elegant, soft, fresh and sweet, with a gorgeous sense of purity in the fruits. All that sweet fruit is accompanied by lift, energy, length and a richness that has not been apparent in previous vintages. The finish is all about its silky textures. 1,840 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2021On the fruity and floral side, this wine is packed with silky textured, fresh, ripe cherries and licorice with a richness and a soft, elegant, supple, berry-filled finish. 90-92 Pts 2,221 Views Tasted Apr 19, 2019 |
2017
Château Franc-Mayne (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Not a lot of flesh here, yet it is soft, medium bodied with bright red fruits and sweetness. This should drink well upon or shortly after release. 1,736 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2018 |
2016
Château Franc-Mayne (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
A nice combination of elegance, purity of fruit and sweetness in the red berries creates a medium-bodied wine with fresh fruits and a polished, textured, up-beat finish. 2,459 Views Tasted Feb 11, 2019Elegance, purity of fruit and sweetness in the red berries, this is a medium-bodied wine with fresh fruits and a polished, textured finish. 2,259 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2017 |
2015
Château Franc-Mayne (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Loads of truffle infused cherries, silky, soft, elegant textures and a refined, sweet, plum and cherry finish combine to make everything work here. The property was sold to new owners in early, 2018. 2,949 Views Tasted Mar 12, 2018One of the best vintages ever produced at Franc Mayne. The truffle, dark plum, espresso nose charms you. But it is the forward styled, silky, refined, soft textures of all those, ripe, juicy, sweet plums that keeps you here. 2,997 Views Tasted Nov 22, 2017Polished black raspberries, licorice, vanilla and espresso in the opening notes, this wine has more body than in previous years, plus a better depth of flavor and more freshness in the finish. 2,009 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2016 |
2014
Château Franc-Mayne (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Fresh red fruits with peppercorn tones, this is a forward-styled, medium-bodied wine, soft and approachable with a cherry and black raspberry finish. 88-89 Pts 1,939 Views Tasted Apr 27, 2015 |
2013
Château Franc-Mayne (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Fresh herbs, fennel, red berries and light density, this forward wine will offer its red fruit personality on release. 87-89 Pts 1,879 Views Tasted Apr 28, 2014 |
2012
Château Franc-Mayne (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Medium bodied, lighter style of wine, dominated by red plums and cherries, oak and earth. This will not make old wines and will probably drink best on the young side. 3,045 Views Tasted Mar 11, 2015Coffee cake, licorice, caramel and plum notes pair with soft, silky textures that end with a dusty red berry finish. 88-90 Pts 3,105 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2013 |
2011
Château Franc-Mayne (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Medium bodied, with a focus on soft red berries, earth and spice, this easy drinking wine will show well on release. This will not make old bones. I'd drink this on the young side. 2,419 Views Tasted Feb 20, 2014Licorice and fresh, spicy red berries are the core of the wine. Soft and easy to drink, this will deliver pleasure on release. 1,233 Views Tasted Nov 17, 201390% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.5% ABV and will be aged in 70% new oak. With licorice, coffee, floral and black raspberry scents, this soft-textured, polished, fresh St. Emilion ends with a medium-bodied, red berry finish. 89-91 Pts 1,381 Views Tasted Apr 24, 2012 |
2010
Château Franc-Mayne (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Coffee bean, spice, fennel, jam and plum notes open to a tannic, polished wine with good depth of flavor and soft textures that requires a few more years of bottle age before it becomes even more fun to taste. 3,865 Views Tasted Aug 7, 2013Franc Mayne Fennel, jammy black cherries, espresso and cassis scents, medium/full bodied with round, elegant textures and a juicy, blackberry, licorice and red plum finish. 90-93 3,785 Views Tasted Apr 22, 2011 |
2009
Château Franc-Mayne (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Showing a deep garnet color, the wine delivers primary notes of plum, licorice, blak raspberry, espresso bean and vanilla. The wine is already approachable, silky and fun to taste with its polished black cherry. It should also age easily for at least a decade or more. 3,660 Views Tasted Aug 7, 2013Chocolate covered black cherries, licorice, espresso and leafy aromas open to a round, lush, sweet, ripe, dark berry filled wine. Produced in a forward style, this blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc is already fun to taste. 3,246 Views Tasted Feb 17, 2013 |
2008
Château Franc-Mayne (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Coffee bean, earth, herbs and red berry aromas make up the perfume. On the palate, the wine is soft, open and focuses on its cherry core. Drink now, or age it for a year or two. 4,054 Views Tasted Aug 6, 2013This wine opens with cherry, coca and coffee flavors. Medium bodied with a hint of green from under ripeness, the wine ends with a kirsch filled finish. 3,298 Views Tasted Jan 25, 2011 |
2007
Château Franc-Mayne (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Medium bodied, with light cherry, wild strawberry and spice, this soft, easy drinking wine is probably at peak today and requires drinking. 3,200 Views Tasted Aug 6, 2013 |
2006
Château Franc-Mayne (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
A more structured style of Franc Mayne. This is still youthful. In fact, a few more years will add softness to the truffle, smoke, mineral and fresh cherry filled, charming, finesse styled wine. 3,297 Views Tasted Aug 6, 2013 |
2005
Château Franc-Mayne (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Smoke, licorice, stone and fresh plum scents pair well with the silky, soft, sweet cherry, mid palate. You can drink this elegant wine now, or age it for a few more years. 5,254 Views Tasted Aug 7, 2013Medium bodied wine with a slightly bright fruit personality. The wines plush texture is slightly marred by a bitter quality in the finish 4,938 Views Tasted Jan 20, 2008 |
2004
Château Franc-Mayne (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Medium bodied, with a focus on crisp, bright, spicy, earthy, red fruits, the wine is starting to fade and need to be consumed sooner than later. 3,149 Views Tasted Nov 30, 2014The debut vintage produced by the new owners introduced 10% Caberent Franc for the first time to the blend. Medium bodied and dominated by bright, red berries, the wine has started dropping its fruit and should be enjoyed sooner than later to preserve the remaining fresh fruit quality. 2,801 Views Tasted Aug 6, 2013 |
2003
Château Franc-Mayne (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Aromas of smoke, earth, red berries and fennel open to a medium bodied, tart red berry finish. This is the last vintage produced from 100% Merlot. The new owners took over the following year, changing the label, vineyard cepage and blend. 3,627 Views Tasted Aug 6, 2013 |
2002
Château Franc-Mayne (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Fully mature, with a nose of earth, forest, oak and cherry notes. The medium bodied wine ends with light, spicy, red cherries and requires consumption. 3,384 Views Tasted Aug 6, 2013 |