"The jewel of the family: 5.6 hectares of Merlot (80%) and Cabernet Franc planted on silty-gravelly soils with a clay subsoil. It stands out for its consistency. With the 2014 vintage, it reaches new heights. Its strengths? A deep, youthful color verging on black; an expressive and charming bouquet blending ripe berries, morello cherry, the gentle spices of subtle oak, and above all that touch of violet typical of Pomerol; a full-bodied, dense, generous, and harmonious palate, where we find the range of the nose, with that mineral note and those stone fruit accents characteristic of Graves wines; and a beautiful, soaring finish, underscored by elegant tannins. Class at a reasonable price.” (Le Guide Hachette des Vins 2018)
Buy your Franc-Maillet wines at the best prices in a private sale!
Starting at €99 on your first order
Eye
Deep garnet color
Nose
Expressive and pleasant, with ripe red and black berries, morello cherries, mild spices, and woody notes, along with a floral hint of violet
Palate
A beautiful fabric, soft and substantial, with a lovely texture.
Serve
At 17–18°C
Drink from
2018
Drink before
2030
Food and wine pairings
It pairs perfectly with suckling lamb, braised beef, beef en croûte, and its gravy...
Bettane & Desseauve
Wine rated (2018 guide) 15,5/20 (Very good wine)
Rated estate (2015 guide) Selected (An estate or winery that impressed us with one or more of its wines, though we are unable to offer a general assessment of the style of its entire range)
About the wine:
A rich, full-bodied flavor, supported by a structure that is both firm and elegant.
About the estate:
Pomerol is brimming with little-known gems that, at their best, easily rival the wines of its most prestigious châteaux. Just a stone’s throw from L’Évangile, the Maillet sector slopes gently down toward the small Barbane stream that separates Pomerol from Néac, home to a few charming small-scale estates such as Franc-Maillet. The Arpin family applies sound traditional viticultural principles here and rightly highlights a very old Merlot vineyard on fairly clayey soil. Its wine holds its own in great vintages compared to those of Petrus or Trotanoy, and Jean-Luc Thunevin is spot on in offering it in his Saint-Émilion shops.
Guide Hachette des vins
Wine noted (guide 2018) 2* Favorite (Remarkable wine)
Rated estate (2018 guide) Award-winning wines (This producer’s wines are regularly recognized by the guide)
About the wine:
The jewel in the family's crown: 5.6 hectares of Merlot (80%) and Cabernet Franc planted on silty-gravelly soils with a clay subsoil. It stands out for its consistency. With the 2014 vintage, it reaches new heights. Its strengths? A deep, youthful color verging on black; an expressive and charming bouquet blending ripe berries, morello cherry, the gentle spices of subtle oak, and above all that touch of violet typical of Pomerol; a full-bodied, dense, generous, and harmonious palate, where the nose’s profile is echoed, with that mineral note and the stone fruit accents characteristic of Graves wines; and a beautiful, soaring finish, underscored by elegant tannins. Class at a reasonable price.
About the estate:
Upon his return from World War I, Jean-Baptiste Arpin purchased 1 hectare in Pomerol, in the Maillet area. Today, his grandsons and great-grandsons, Gérard and Gaël, cultivate 38 hectares in Pomerol, Saint-Émilion, Montagne, and Lalande, and consistently produce excellent wines.
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Rated winery (2005 guide) Selected (Please note that this guide is a ranking, and as such, all the wineries listed here—even those without a star—represent, in our view, the pinnacle of French winemaking.)
About the estate:
Located in the Maillet district, which gave its name to the Château Franc-Maillet estate, Franc-Maillet has been owned by the Arpin family for nearly a century. Over the past five years, the estate has shown steady improvement, notably with a prestige cuvée named Jean-Baptiste, which displays beautiful fullness and undeniable elegance. The wines: in both cuvées from Château Franc-Maillet, the latest vintages show steady and very promising progress. The 2000s are deep, full-bodied, and robust wines, with tannins that are not dry and are very ripe. The Jean-Baptiste cuvée is of remarkable intensity. Vieux Château Gachet, the Lalande-de-Pomerol, is also flavorful and refined in 2000.
Gilbert & Gaillard
Wine rated (2016 guide) 92/100
About the wine:
Deep color with youthful purple hues. The nose shows beautiful maturity, dominated by red fruit with a subtle hint of oak. On the palate, it opens with a smooth attack, featuring velvety tannins that highlight ripe, lingering aromas. A classic Pomerol that is already very expressive.
Customer rating
4/5
based on 7 reviews
Review by Mr. MARC C. Posted on October 6, 2018
Really very good. An excellent wine. Smooth and well-balanced.
See all reviews from this customer
Review by Mr. CEDRIC A. Posted on April 16, 2020
See all reviews from this customer
Review by Mr. GUILLAUME P. Published on March 7, 2020
See all reviews from this customer
Review by Mr. MARCEL C. Posted on 12/01/2019
See all reviews from this customer
Review by Mr. ROMAIN P. Published on May 25, 2019
See all reviews from this customer
Review by Mr. PIERRE L. Posted on September 23, 2018
See all reviews from this customer
Review by Mr. MASSIMO D. Posted on September 15, 2018
See all reviews from this customer
Discover more wines from the estate
