From: Bordeaux, France
Varietal: Merlot
Taste and Critical Acclaim: "Ripe fruit with chocolate, spice and hints of raisins. Full body, round and juicy tannins, and a flavorful finish. Really delicious." –James Suckling, 91 points (December 2019)
"Warm plum sauce and raspberry reduction flavors give this a lush and seductive feel, with well-embedded apple wood and anise notes adding detail on the polished finish. (JM)" –Wine Spectator, 91 points (2020)
"Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Saintayme delivers expressive black cherries, mulberries and boysenberries scents with hints of rosehip tea, tilled soil and spice box. Medium-bodied, the palate has plenty of juicy red and black fruits with a plush texture and refreshing finish. (LPB)" –Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 90 points (March 2020)
"This is good quality wine from Denis Durantou, but not generous - we are again on the more austere side of 2017 here. It needs some time to open and to show itself, taking a classical, intellectual approach and showing that even 100% Merlot can have walls. The fruit has a classical sway, with firm tannins that have a lovely sense of upward motion. Picked between 26 September and 6 October. The wine is matured in one-year-old barrels. (JA) " –Decanter (April 2018)
"The 2017 Saintayme is an attractive wine with plenty of near- and medium-term appeal. Juicy dark red and purplish fruit notes are nicely pushed forward here. The 2017 offers lovely immediacy, even if some of the fruit richness tapers off a touch on the finish. Readers should expect an especially racy, fruity style. (AG)" –Vinous (March 2020)
Pairing: Wine from Saint-Emilion is a dream to pair due to its versatility. Duck or game terrine with some quince jelly on the side would be great due to its rich fatty content that balances with the freshness of the wines. Believe it or not, lasagna is a great pairing too. We love recommending this alongside a shoulder of lamb roasted with rosemary or thyme, with seasonal greens, and we adore this particular wine with Korean bbq (less spice) and ribs that have a ton of flavor, but not heat. With that last thought in mind, we're sharing a recipe by Kay Chun today, for Korean Bulgogi Bolognese. Cheers!
About. Saintayme is a property in Saint-Émilion run by winemaker Denis Durantou, who is best known for producing one of the best wines in the Pomerol appellation with Château L'Eglise Clinet. Over the past few years Durantou has increased his holdings on the Right Bank; not only is he on a long-term leasing arrangement for the Saintayme vineyard in Saint-Émillion, but he also has other vineyards in the Lalande de Pomerol appellation and the Côtes de Bordeaux. Durantou released his first vintage of Saintayme in 2011, and produces about 3500 cases per vintage.
The 9-hectare, single-parcel Saintayme vineyard is planted to almost all Merlot with a tiny percentage of Cabernet Franc. It is located in the commune of Saint Etienne de Lisse, which has been producing increasingly popular wines in recent years. The terroir is typical of other top vineyards in the area, with limestone, clay, and gravel soils, and the vines are close to 35 years old.