Ilex 2023 Chateau Franc Mayne 0.5%

Saint-Emilion, reimagined. Grand Cru Classé, but almost alcohol free! Ilex is a 100% Merlot Vin de France wine crafted from a single vintage, using traditional maturation methods. Grapes are hand-harvested from Grand Cru Classé vineyards, and the wine has its alcohol gently removed only after natural complexity has developed, helping to preserve structure, aroma, and mouthfeel.

Ilex is the first Grand Cru Classé virtually non-alcoholic red wine, created with a leading vineyard on Saint-Émilion’s right bank, Chateau Franc Mayne. Bordeaux is the reference point for red wine… and has been silent… until now. Chateau Franc Mayne is the first top tier vineyard to make a premium non-alc red wine.

Inviting aromas of ripe plum, black cherry and a touch of mocha. The palate is smooth and rounded, with soft tannins and layers of red berry fruit balanced by subtle notes of spice and cedar. A fine, elegant and persistent finish.

Château Franc Mayne from Saint-Émilion is the first Cru Classé winery in Bordeaux to introduce a non-alcoholic red wine. The Ilex 2023 is a single-varietal Merlot Vin de France. The grapes for this wine come from Grand Cru Classé vineyards and are grown according to organic principles. Co-founder Paul Beavis describes the Ilex as a "true Saint-Émilion wine." Since the alcohol is removed only after the traditional two-year aging in oak barrels and the development of complexity, its elegance is preserved. The grapes from the 2023 vintage were particularly well suited for this. They were able to remain on the skins for a long time due to their "excellent berry structure," which refined the tannins.