2025 Château Grand Mayne Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

EXCLUSIVE - DELIVERY EXPECTED SPRING 2028

Winery: Château Grand Mayne

Château Grand Mayne belongs to the historic Grand Cru Classés of Saint-Émilion and is situated just outside the village, on the limestone slopes of the appellation. The château has been in the hands of the Nony family since 1934 and combines classic Saint-Émilion structure with an increasingly refined and precise style. Under the leadership of Jean-Antoine Nony, Grand Mayne has undergone a distinct development in recent years. Greater precision in the vineyard, stricter selection, and more subtle extraction have resulted in wines with more finesse and tension, without losing the classic character of Saint-Émilion.

Origin and terroir

The vineyards of Grand Mayne are situated on a combination of limestone plateau and clay-limestone slopes, a terroir ideal for both Merlot and Cabernet Franc. It is precisely the limestone-rich soils that contribute to freshness, tension, and length in the wine. The 2025 vintage experienced warm and dry conditions, but Grand Mayne benefited from surprisingly good yields of Cabernet Franc. According to Jean-Antoine Nony, a younger Cabernet Franc plot produced fruit of sufficient quality for the first time to be fully incorporated into the Grand Vin. This contributes directly to the style of 2025.

Grapes and vineyard management

The 2025 blend consists of 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc, the highest proportion of Cabernet Franc since the 1960s. A notable detail is that 4% of the blend was fermented with whole clusters, exclusively Cabernet Franc. This adds extra aromatic complexity, with subtle spiciness, Mediterranean herbs, and fresh pepper notes, while also contributing to the wine's velvety texture. The average age of the vines is approximately 30 years and the yield remained relatively limited at 36 hl/ha, contributing to concentration and precision.

Vinification and aging

The harvest took place between September 4 and 12 for Merlot and from September 15 to 18 for Cabernet Franc. The grapes were carefully selected and vinified separately to maintain maximum precision per plot. Aging takes place in a combination of 40% new French oak barrels, 40% barrels aged one to two years, and 20% wooden vats. This approach ensures structure and refinement without the wood dominating the wine.

Style and taste profile

The 2025 Grand Mayne immediately displays a strikingly fresh and refined style. On the nose, aromas of cassis, darkcurrant, and mulberry open, followed by floral notes that become increasingly prominent as the wine breathes. Additionally, cedar, subtle undergrowth notes, and light spiciness provide extra depth. On the palate, it is medium to full-bodied in style, yet remarkably smooth and refined. The texture is velvety and enveloping, supported by fine-grained tannins and a fresh line of acidity that gives the wine tension. Dark fruit and subtle spices flow beautifully into a long, elegant finish. What stands out most is the precision. This is not a heavy or overripe Saint-Émilion, but a wine that emphatically opts for balance, freshness, and finesse. It is precisely for this reason that the 2025 aligns beautifully with the château's recent stylistic evolution.

Volume 2025

The 2025 vintage demonstrates just how much precision in the vineyard can make the difference. While many Right Bank wines turn out rich and warm, Grand Mayne stands out for its freshness and definition. The higher use of Cabernet Franc plays a key role in this. According to owner Jean-Antoine Nony, this is one of the most exceptional blends of the past few decades. The combination of ripe fruit, tension, and elegance makes this a wine that ages exceptionally well.

Summary of professional reviews

92-94 points – Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate: praises the fresh expression, dark berries, velvety texture, and refined tannin structure. 93-95 points – Neal Martin, Vinous: describes the wine as refined, fresh, and strikingly elegant, with supple tannins and a long, stylish finish. Drinking windows run from approximately 2032 to 2055. The full review texts can be found in the tab: Professional reviews.

Wine & Food Pairing and Discount

If available, you will find the official factsheet and additional information about this fine wine in the 'Attachments' tab. We will automatically send these to you upon ordering this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you come to collect the wine, you will often receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you select 'Pick up' on the checkout page. We are located in Dordrecht, situated almost next to the A16 with ample parking. Click here for our address.

You can read full wine reviews from Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator, among others. Need advice on finding the ideal wine for your dish? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier. Free for Grandcruwijnen customers. In the Food tab, you will find advice on what to look for for the right food and wine pairing, and a number of dish suggestions from our Sommelier.