Château La Grande Maye, Côtes de Castillon, 2019

Paul and Cédric Valade's Grande Maye, from the hills of Castillon is reliably brilliant. Produced from 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, it is perhaps a notch up on the very impressive 2015. Slightly less flamboyant and more controlled, the 2016 is a real class act. The bouquet offers notes of violets, woodsmoke, bright hedgerow berries and liquorice. The mid-palate has wonderfully textured fruit, with plenty of cassis and cranberry. There is a velvety quality to the fruit framed by sleek, granular tannins. A mighty impressive example from this much vaunted vintage.