Deep, ruby, tight rim. Bright cherry fruit, Cassis, liquorice, with the tone of mineral and spice. The palate reflects the nose, slightly herbal, minty clean, with a firm structure. Tannins are full. The aftertaste is fresh and round a la style Boissenot.; full-bodied with long length; a masculine Margaux; a sleeper.
Scores are consistent and high. For example:
93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Only 57% of the production made it into the 2011 d'Issan, which tips the scales at a lofty 13.2% natural alcohol. A blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon and 31% Merlot, it possesses a dark ruby/purple colour and a classic Margaux perfume of sweet blueberries, black currants, spring flowers and liquorice. Ripe and deep with impressive intensity, it is one of the stars of the 2011 vintage. The wine's silky tannins, fresh acids and stunning length suggest it will drink well for 15-20 years. Edited.
92 points Wine Enthusiast
A dense wine that's full of black plums and firm tannin. It weights the front and juicy freshness on the finish (4/2012)
91 points Wine Spectator
Good focus, with a dusty frame but an excellent sappy core of blackberry and black cherry. Nice perfumy edge on the finish. (4/2012)
95 points Decanter
Here, the high aromatics punch right out of the glass. Its excellent quality, juiciness, and a sense of restraint to the undoubtedly exuberant black fruits. A sense of freshness and fun runs through it, which will be great with food because of its high acidity. A liquorice edge and a saline kick to the finish make it highly mouthwatering. There's plenty to grab hold of here, and the vintage allows for an Issan that's approachable earlier than usual, and wine lovers should make the most of it. Edited.
The 2004 Grand-Mayne has a ripe mix of red and black fruit(blackberry, strawberries and cherries) with good definition and depth. The palate profile reflects the nose- medium-bodied with firm tannins cloaked in dense fruit- 2004 brings a lifted acidity that carries the wine to a balanced and structured finish. Like 2002, 2004 showed no greenness and rawness yet a sense of roundness on the finish. There are secondary tones of coffee and toast followed by some meatiness, pointing to excellent development over the past 20 years in bottles and still holding up well. The vintage 2004 is as stable.
We always believe it is one of the best-value Right Bank in the traditional style(partial oak fermentation and extended storage of more than 18 months) with evident reformation towards modern style(towards 100% new oak at times). The 21-hectare St. Emilion vineyard of Grand Mayne plants 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon with vines that average close to 30 years of age with 5,500 vines per hectare, hence there is always some complexity and intensity.
The vineyard of Chateau Grand Mayne lies to the west of Saint Emilion, at the foot of the plateau, hence specific structure and greenness sometimes. Even though the vineyard is in one large block of vines, Chateau Grand Mayne results from two different terroirs, thus the diversity of taste. Grand Mayne has vines planted in clay and limestone soils on the hillsides, which reach 55 meters at its peak. A portion of these vines borders Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot(a rich, full and tannic style). Further down the hillsides at the base of the slopes and in the flats, you find sand over clay which abuts Chateau Laroze(the form of soft, fragrant and fruity).
There are consistent ratings and scores around the 92 points standard, for example:
Tom Caravan 92
(2005) Very deep and opaque. Silky, crushed blackberry and deep, ripe cherry nose. Lots of lift on this one, with floral notes and kirsch-like qualities. There's a dark chocolate background, but the fruit is lovely and powerful. Smooth, silky and medium-bodied, with a raft of juicy, chewy black cherry and cherry skin fruit. A natural plum skin bites to this wine, with elegance and coolness to the core of fruit, but a dark, quite a dramatic underpinning of liquorice depth adding structure. Well-balanced, with spicy tannins and good acidity in the finish, but that aromatic quality of pure fruit persisting(edited, tasted Jan 2005)
Wine-Searcher 92
The deep, dark ruby-red pigmentation is almost opaque. The wine's aromas have a nice clean, modern-style with lifted red fruit (strawberries) & vanilla. Fresh acidity lifts red fruit on the palate, but oak influences take over quickly. The wine is of mid-weight with fine tannins. Alcohol is balanced & the finish shows clean fruit with appropriate length. (Edited, tasted 2011)
Deep ruby with a tight rim, the colour shows depth as the Cabernets picked late. The nose of cassis is still fresh with tones of truffle, liquorice and cigar box. There is dense black fruit through well-integrated tannins on the palate on the healthy structured palate. This vintage is elegant and classically Pauillac of medium body and length. This wine will get you to drink on and on and stay happy, but if you are looking for a blockbuster style from Pauillac, don't buy this vintage. Scores are not so great, hence the price is great for now.
90 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Red-ruby. Ripe aromas of dark chocolate, minerals and earth. Sweet and plummy, with a silky texture and lovely depth of flavor. Finishes with fine-grained tannins that spread out to coat the palate. (6/2004, not edited)
Wine Spectator
A beautiful nose of crushed currant and cigar box. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a caressing, complex aftertaste. Delicious, stylish and fresh. Best after 2007. (Web-2007, not edited)
93 Neal Martin: "Tasted at the chateau, the 2001 at ten years of age has superb intensity on the nose with black cherries, melted tar, graphite and cold black tea all with fine vigour and vivacity. The palate is medium-bodied with a cohesive, quite powerful entry that sets the stage for a very poised, focused GPL. From its rather awkward showings out of barrel, the 2001 is blossoming into a sublime expression of Pauillac in this vintage. I would still afford it more time though. Tasted March 2011."(Not edited).
