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Saintayme/Saintem 2021

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot

This Saint Emilion from the Durantou family is labelled "Saintayme" or sometimes "Saintem". This always modestly priced cuvée comes from a 9 hectare parcel of 35 year old Merlot vines in Saint Etienne de Lisse.

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Vignobles Denis Durantou

Label

Tasting Notes

The Durantou family's 2021 Saintayme derives from soils rich in large stones in Saint-Étienne-de-Lisse. Offering up aromas of sweet blackberries, licorice and spices, it's medium-bodied, lively and charming, with a fleshy core of fruit and fine, powdery tannins.

88/90
William Kelley, Wine Advocate (260), April 2022

Cool ruby plum in colour, this has earthy blackberry and blueberry fruit, a gentle touch of grilled cedar and gunsmoke, and the same reserved, measured delivery and mouthwatering finish that I found En Primeur. Enjoyable, no need to wait too long to drink this, I would suggest just a year or two more, and it should then stay in its drinking window for a good decade. Harvest September 28 to October 11. 30% new oak.

91
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, April 2023

Youthfully reserved, the 2021 Saintayme, a 100% Merlot, evokes aromas of dark berries and spices with some green notes. Moderately weighted and round on the palate, the wine is firm and tannic on the finish. The maturation process seems to have made the wine stricter and more tannic than during the en primeur tasting session. Drink Date: 2024 - 2034

88
Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate, February 2024

The 2021 is 100% Merlot as always, harvested from 28th September to 11th October. Total production will be 5,000 cases at 13.5% abv, with 30% matured in new French oak barrels. Bright ruby colour. Very fragrant, with cherry blossom and sweeter juicy plums. Super airy and lifted on the palate, this is a juicy, moreish and approachable wine. There is a little chalk and grip for now, but this should integrate nicely through elevage and make this delicious in the mid term. Cedar and fresh red berries linger on the finish.

89/92
Thomas Parker MW, Farr Vintners, April 2022

This pure merlot is bright and fruity with crushed berry and orange peel. Medium body and fresh acidity. Very citrusy.

90/91
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, May 2022

The 2021 Saintayme is 100% Merlot, aging in 30% new oak. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it skips out of the glass with cheery notions of fresh raspberries, warm strawberries, and fallen leaves with wafts of wild thyme and black pepper. Medium-bodied, the palate is crisp and crunchy with bags of red berry flavors and a soft-textured finish.
2024-2031

86/88
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, May 2022

100% Merlot. Cask sample.
Round, aromatic and gourmand. Chalky freshness and tannins. Lighter weight but pleasure in the fruit and freshness. (JL) 13.5%
Drink 2025 – 2032

16
James Lawther MW, JancisRobinson.com, May 2022
Read more tasting notes...

Beautiful juice here, cool, measured, reserved, precise blue fruit and gunsmoke reduction, with sinew and just a touch of swagger. Harvest September 28 to October 11.

92
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, April 2022
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.

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