Saintayme 2018

Deep ruby in colour with a bright nose of red cherries and mulberries. The palate is chalky and rich, with heady red fruits and a touch of sweet vanilla. Creamy and plump, this is an exuberant and fleshy wine that will drink well young and shoul offer great value.

Produced by Denis Durantou of Château L’Eglise Clinet, the 2018 Saintayme is made of 100% Merlot with 30% new oak and 14.5% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple colored, it bursts from the glass with plum preserves, crushed blackberries and chocolate-covered cherries with hints of lavender, unsmoked cigar and fragrant earth. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals beautiful freshness and elegance with soft tannins and loads of mineral sparks on the finish.

This is very perfumed with a firm and solid, stony tannin structure. Lovely, linear line through this. Full and tight at the same time.

Denis Durantou's 2018 Saintayme is especially fine in 2018. Bright, floral and energetic, Saintayme really shines. In fact, I can't remember a recent vintage with this much finesse. The tannins need time to soften, but there is plenty of radiant fruit waiting to emerge. I won't be surprised if the finished wine is even better than this note suggests. Tasted two times.

Inky core with purple rim. Black fruit and dark-chocolate aroma. Rather oaky? Firm extraction giving firm, dry tannins. A little bit tough on the finish. Powerful but a little bit pushed in terms of extraction, I think.
Drink 2023-2029

From the team of Denis Durantou, the 2018 Saintayme (100% Merlot brought up in 30% new oak) is a total charmer that savvy readers should snatch up. Offering full-bodied notes of black raspberries, kirsch, and spice box, it has silky tannins, a terrific sense of elegance and purity, and outstanding length. Drink it on release and over the following decade.

(100 Merlot) | 30% new oak | 14.5% alc | 88000 bottles produced | Picked between 29th September and 9th October The oak is dominant and the fruit is tense and very closed, but the nose is amazing with fabulous, deep red fruit and some wilder berry tones intermingle with cinnamon and Asian spices. It will take a long time to soften, but this will be a full-framed, impressive wine in due course.