Château Franc Mayne: Vineyards
As noted in my introduction the domaine sits on the side of the road that runs between the towns of St Emilion and Libourne. Whereas some domaines are indeed easily overlooked, this is perhaps not true of Château Franc Mayne. Tall and imposing gateposts, fashioned from neatly-dressed creamy-yellow limestone, mark the entrance to the estate, and they are hard to miss. The much more expansive Clos des Jacobins, next-door, seems positively understated in comparison.
Beyond the gates the road leads up to the 16th-century inn, today the Relais de Franc Mayne. Guests can relax in one of the well-appointed rooms, or even rent the luxurious treehouse which is nestled among the vines. The château sits in the middle of the vineyard, the 7 hectares of vines spread around it on the slopes of the Côte de Franc. Neighbouring estates include the aforementioned Clos des Jacobins as well as Château Laroze and Château Grand-Mayne to the west, Château Coutet, Château Bellevue and beyond that Château Angélus to the south, and Château Franc-Pourret and Château Les Trois Moulins to the east. To the north, on the other side of the road, are Château Vieux Pourret and, if you look far enough, Château Fonroque.
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