Franc Mayne 2016 75cl

The 2016 Franc-Mayne has a very rich and opulent bouquet with crème de cassis and blueberry aromas, although it needs to muster more delineation to compete with its peers. The palate is full-bodied with saturated tannin, juicy black cherry and wild strawberry fruit with an attractive spiciness developing on the finish. It just needs to find more refinement once in bottle but there is potential here, even if I prefer the 2015 last year.

Ripe and fleshy, with a rounded edge to the blueberry and plum sauce flavors. Lots of anise and sweet spice as well before a kick of toast clamps down a touch on the finish. Enough here to soak that up during the élevage though.—J.M.