The jewel in the family's crown: 5.6 hectares of Merlot (80%) and Cabernet Franc planted on siliceous gravelly soils with a clay subsoil. It stands out for its consistency. With the 2014 vintage, it has reached new heights. Its strengths? A deep, youthful color, verging on black; an expressive, charming bouquet, blending ripe berries, morello cherry, the sweet spices of fine oak, and above all that touch of violet typical of Pomerol; a fleshy, dense, generous and harmonious palate, reflecting the bouquet, with mineral notes and hints of stone fruit characteristic of gravelly soils; and a beautiful finish, underscored by elegant tannins. Class at a reasonable price." (Le Guide Hachette des Vins 2018)
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Eye
Deep garnet color
Nose
Expressive and pleasant with ripe red and black berries, morello cherry, sweet spices, and woody notes, floral notes of violet
Mouth
A beautiful material, supple and fleshy, with a beautiful grain.
Serve
At 17-18°C
Drink from
2018
Drink before
2030
Food and wine pairings
Pairs perfectly with milk-fed lamb, braised beef, beef en croûte, and 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, but where we are unable to give an overall opinion on the style of the entire range)
About wine:
Beautiful amplitude on the attack, supported by a structure that is both straightforward and elegant.
About the estate:
Pomerol is full of little-known treasures which, at their best, easily rival the wines of its most prestigious châteaux. A stone's throw from L'Évangile, the Maillet area slopes gently down to the Barbane stream that separates Pomerol from Néac, with some very appealing small artisan wines such as Franc-Maillet. The Arpin family applies sound farming principles to their viticulture and wisely isolates a very old Merlot vineyard on fairly clayey soil. Its wine is every bit as good as that of Petrus or Trotanoy in a great vintage, and Jean-Luc Thunevin is right to stock 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 awarded by the guide)
About wine:
The jewel in the family's crown: 5.6 hectares of Merlot (80%) and Cabernet Franc planted on siliceous gravelly soils with a clay subsoil. It stands out for its consistency. With the 2014 vintage, it has reached new heights. Its strengths? A deep, youthful color verging on black; an expressive, charming bouquet combining ripe berries, morello cherry, the sweet spices of fine oak, and above all that touch of violet typical of Pomerol; a fleshy, dense, generous and harmonious palate, reflecting the bouquet, with mineral notes and hints of stone fruit characteristic of gravelly soils; and a beautiful 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 farm 38 hectares in Pomerol, Saint-Émilion, Montagne and Lalande, regularly producing excellent wines.
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Rated estate (2005 guide) Selected (Please note that this guide is a ranking and, as such, all the estates listed in it, even those without stars, represent, in our opinion, the excellence of French production.)
About the estate:
Located in the Maillet district, which gave its name to the Château Franc-Maillet estate, Franc-Maillet has belonged to the Arpin family for nearly a century. Over the past five years, the wine has been steadily improving, particularly a prestigious cuvée named Jean-Baptiste, which is beautifully full-bodied and undeniably elegant. The wines: in both Château Franc-Maillet vintages, the latest vintages show steady and very interesting progress. The 2000s are deep, fleshy, full-bodied wines with very ripe tannins that are not dry. The Jean-Baptiste cuvée is remarkably intense. Vieux Château Gachet, a Lalande-de-Pomerol, is also flavorful and refined in 2000.
Gilbert & Gaillard
Wine rated (2016 guide) 92/100
About wine:
Deep color with youthful purple highlights. Beautifully mature nose dominated by red fruit with a slight hint of oak. Smooth on the palate with velvety tannins showcasing ripe, persistent aromas. A distinctive Pomerol that is already very expressive.
Customer rating
4/5
based on 7 reviews
Note and opinion by Mr. MARC C. Published on October 6, 2018
Really very good. Excellent wine. Smooth and balanced.
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Review and opinion by Mr. CEDRIC A. Published on 04/16/2020
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Review and opinion by Mr. GUILLAUME P. Published on March 7, 2020
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Note and opinion by Mr. MARCEL C. Published on 12/01/2019
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Review and opinion by Mr. ROMAIN P. Published on 05/25/2019
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Review and opinion by Mr. PIERRE L. Published on 09/23/2018
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Review and opinion by Mr. MASSIMO D. Published on 09/15/2018
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