From the atlas
Domaine du Grand Mayne
A Côtes de Duras domaine in southwest France with a community ownership model, a Cabernet and Merlot range, and rosé made from grapes harvested at night.
At A Glance
| Field | Detail |
| Region | Southwest France |
| Appellation | Côtes de Duras |
| Main grapes | Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon |
| Signature wine | Grand Mayne Rosé |
| Defining feature | Community ownership through Seedrs crowdfunding |
The Producer
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot run through Domaine du Grand Mayne's rosé and red wines. Coline Sicard is the current chief winemaker. The named range includes Grand Mayne Rosé, Grand Mayne Merlot Cabernet and Grand Mayne L'Alter-égo. Since 2018, a community of over 900 shareholders has owned the estate through Seedrs crowdfunding.
Place
The Côtes de Duras appellation appears on Grand Mayne Rosé, Grand Mayne L'Alter-égo and Grand Mayne Merlot Cabernet, covering one rosé and two reds. An appellation is a geographic name on a wine label. Here, the name keeps the range tied to one place in southwest France while the grape compositions change from bottle to bottle.
Story
Andrew Gordon sold the company in 2007. After it relaunched under ownership based in the UK in 2013, he returned as a director in 2015 to oversee modernization. The winemaking role later changed hands: Mathieu Crosnier moved to Château Rieussec in Sauternes, and Coline Sicard filled the chief winemaker position.
Vineyards And Cellar
Grand Mayne Rosé grapes are harvested at night to preserve freshness, then undergo direct pressing. Direct pressing sends the harvested grapes straight to the press, producing the pale eglantine colour described for the wine. The 2019 Grand Mayne Merlot Cabernet is aged for 18 months in stainless steel.
Wines
Grand Mayne Rosé is the range's rosé, while Grand Mayne L'Alter-égo and Grand Mayne Merlot Cabernet are red wines. The 2021 Rosé combines Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon making up 10% of the blend. The 2018 Merlot Cabernet uses 60% Merlot and 40% combined Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
In The Glass
Grand Mayne Rosé has a pale eglantine robe and a discreetly floral nose that opens toward currants and raspberries. It is fresh on attack, more generous through the middle, and tonic at the finish. Grand Mayne Merlot Cabernet brings fresh ripe fruit aromas, a soft and juicy palate, long lasting flavour and a smooth, velvety texture.
A Bottle To Understand It
Grand Mayne L'Alter-égo 2020 is the first bottle to open. It is a red Côtes de Duras with fruity notes mixed with sweet spices. Its place in the range is as a red companion to Grand Mayne Merlot Cabernet, while Grand Mayne Rosé is the rosé expression.
Anecdote
Within one week of soft launching its Seedrs crowdfunding campaign, Domaine du Grand Mayne attracted the highest number of investors in the platform's history. The response established a community ownership model for the estate, with wine lovers becoming shareholders. The campaign began as a funding round and ended with shared ownership around the domaine and its Côtes de Duras wines.
Final Word
Domaine du Grand Mayne makes Côtes de Duras rosé and red wines, with Coline Sicard as chief winemaker and Grand Mayne Rosé, Grand Mayne Merlot Cabernet and Grand Mayne L'Alter-égo in the range.
Sources
1. https://londonwinecompetition.com/en/blog/producer-profiles-3322/domaine-du-grand-mayne-award-winning-wines-from-a-stunning-part-of-france-193.htm 2. https://spectator.com/article/wine-club-delicious-great-value-wines-from-domaine-du-grand-mayne/ 3. https://harpers.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/17172/FrenchvineyardattractsSeedrshighestnumberofcrowdfundinginvestors.html 4. https://www.hachette-vins.com/guide-vins/producteurs/17491/dom-grand-mayne/ 5. https://www.hachette-vins.com/guide-vins/les-vins/grand-mayne-merlot-cabernet-2018-2021/202153092/