2010 Franc Mayne

Bright red-ruby. Cassis, licorice, menthol, bitter chocolate and high-pitched spices on the nose. Then tight and a bit rigid in the mouth, with good focus to the moderately ripe flavors of bitter cherry and dark chocolate. Does this lack the flavor development of the year's best examples or will it expand in bottle? The tannins appear to be reasonably ripe.

More closed than I remember from barrel, but at the very minimum showing excellent potential, this wine is rich, with dense black currant and black cherry fruit as well as hints of cedar wood, vanillin and loamy, earthy notes. It is medium to full-bodied, rich and long in the mouth. I suspect there is more than meets the eye to this somewhat closed, masculine style of St.-Emilion. Forget it for 3-4 years and drink it over the next 15 years.