Farr Vintners Logo

Saintayme/Saintem 2011

Tasting Notes

The Saintayme was cropped between 15th and 16th September and is being aged in 30% new oak. It has a blackcurrant pastille scented bouquet with fine delineation, with touches of mulberry fruit underneath. The palate is medium-bodied with a rounded entry. It has a pleasant meaty tincture with a bold, slightly chunky, black olive-tinged finish that will hopefully soften by the time of bottling. Tasted April 2012.

86/88
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2012

Serious concentration of blueberry and mineral character for the vintage. Full body, chewy and tannic. Needs at least three years to soften: try in 2017.

90
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2014

Denis Durantou of L'Eglise Clinet makes this modestly priced cuvée from a parcel of 35 year old Merlot vines in Saint Etienne de Lisse. 2000 cases will be produced. Elevage in 30% new oak. Perfumed, sweet red fruit dominates the nose. Rich, plummy Merlot fills the palate. There is lots of richness here and good bright acidity gives it lift on the finish. Should be fantastic value for money.

90+
Farr Vintners, March 2012

The plum richness of the Merlot is there on the nose and the start of the palate. The mid palate is lighter with fresh fruits all a bit overpowered by the tannic structure.

86/89
Derek Smedley MW, April 2012

No wonder Denis Durantou had a smile on his face during en primeur week. Even his lesser wines are impressive in 2011. This pure Merlot cuvée has notes of aniseed, red fruits and sweet oak, with fine tannins and flavours that are almost Italian on the palate, finishing with a firm, concentrated finish that promises bottle development. 8+ years.

93
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2012
Read more tasting notes...

Pleasant wine with plum and violet character. Round and fun. 100% Merlot.

86/87
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2012
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.