The 2016 Manoir de Gay is the pure Merlot Deuxième Vin of Chateau Le Gay that is cropped at 33.7 hectoliters per hectare. The nose is very high toned and was showing a little volatility at this early stage. It is a bit glossy. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannin, moderate acidity, smooth in texture and very polished in style. It just needs to demonstrate more complexity on the finish. Possibly this was just tempered by the warmth of the growing season.

The 2015 Manoir de Gay comes from 12-year-old Merlot vines from Le Gay. It has a fresh and vibrant, violet-scented bouquet that personally I find preferable to the 2015 Montviel. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red berry fruit, gentle grip in the mouth, just a touch of spice here, but good structured towards the finish - a hint of truffle on the aftertaste. This is a commendable deuxième vin.

The Manoir de Gay 2014 has a crisp, quite focused bouquet with red currants and black cherries coming through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with light tannin, simple red berry fruit with a pleasant, easygoing finish. Fine.

The 2013 Manoir de Gay has a light but pretty bouquet that still has that light truffle accent. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, respectable depth of fruit for a deuxième vin, with just a little coarseness and dryness marring that finish. But otherwise this is a decent Manoir de Gay that should be consumed over the next 2-3 years.