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Saintayme/Saintem 2022

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.

The 2022 is 100% Merlot as usual, with ageing in 30% new oak. This was picked 17th September to 3rd October as the vineyard is naturally cool.

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

Label

Tasting Notes

The 2022 Saintayme was picked from 17 September to 3 October and matured in 30% new oak. It gushes with quite intense red cherries, kirsch and orange pith scents, lovely definition, simple in a positive sense. The palate is medium-bodied with darker fruit than the nose suggest, quite saline with a black pepper-tinged finish. Enjoy this over the next decade.

89/91
Neal Martin, vinous.com, May 2023

Bright ruby in the glass with brambly fruit and a hint of tobacco on the nose, this should offer excellent value for money again in 2022. Bright with red fruit on the palate, there is a light crunch of tannin that quickly melts into the wine. Juicy, with a blend of fleshy plums and floral cherry blossom, this will be a hit right out of the gate and drink well throughout its first few years.

90/93
Thomas Parker MW, Farr Vintners, April 2023

So much sea salt and crunchy fruit with berry and grape character. Some orange, too. Medium-bodied, bright and vivid. Lively finish.

93/94
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2023

The 2022 Saintayme is 100% Merlot and has a deep garnet-purple color. It bursts from the glass with bombastic scents of blackberry preserves, juicy black cherries, and chocolate mint, leading to wafts of black pepper, tar, and clove oil. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of exuberant black fruits, supported by ripe, rounded tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing with a real skip in its step.

90/92
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, May 2023

Intense muscular contraction to the tannins on the opening beats, the fruit gets creamy as it opens, with vivid raspberry reflections and plenty of mouthwating salinity. This is a pretty serious Saintayme, great quality and great value. Olivier Gautrat alongside Noémie Durantou. Harvest September 17 to October 3 (extremely late for the vintage, because cool clays in a cooler part of St Etienne de Lisse, something you also see in the generous 50hl/h yields), 30% new oak.

93
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, May 2023

100% Merlot. Cask sample.
Fragrant and relatively fresh. Alcohol heightens the mid-palate sweetness. Tannins a little chewy and dry on the finish. (JL) 14.4%
Drink 2026– 2032

15.5
James Lawther MW, JancisRobinson.com, May 2023
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.