SAINTAYME
2017 Grand Cru Saint Emilion
100% Merlot. The nose is relatively light. Saline and mixed summer berries. There is an elegant red fruit character on the palate. The oak (once used barrels) adds just a hint of richness, rounding off any hard edges. Crisp acidity and quite green tannins gives the wine a linear finish. Always excellent value for money. A great cellar filler. Rating: 88 L&S (Apr 2018)
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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. Drinking range: 2020 - 2029 Rating: 89 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Mar 2020)
The 2017 Saintayme was picked from 26 September until 6 October and matured in second fill barrels. It has a lifted bouquet with red berry fruit laced with truffle and smoky aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, quite spicy for this cru with hints of truffle and liquorice towards the finish. Drinking range: 2021 - 2029 Rating: 89 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Feb 2020)
Matured in 30% new oak. It has a well defined, cranberry and blackberry scented nose, very natural and elegant, the oak neatly intertwined with the fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly rustic tannin, but very well balanced and surfeit with charm. You could almost run away and drink this already! But for now, we should wait until at least Denis Durantou has bottled it. Drinking range: 2021 - 2032 Rating: 89-91 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2018)
Made of 100% Merlot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Saintayme gives gorgeous black cherries, crushed blackberries and cinnamon stick notes with hints of rose hips and lavender. The palate is medium-bodied with great elegance and freshness, textured with soft tannins and finishing perfumed. Rating: 87-89 Lisa Perrotti-Brown, RobertParker.com (Apr 2018)
100% Merlot. Deep purplish crimson. Gorgeous spicy dark-fruited nose. Savoury and a little austere in fruit on the palate but finely textured. The tannins a touch dry on the finish. Drinking range: 2021 - 2027 Rating: 15.5 Julia Harding MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2018)
Bright and fresh, with a beam of raspberry compote and a judicious overlay of anise-infused toast. A twinge of plum skin on the finish gives this a slightly extracted feel. Solid. Rating: 89-92 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2018)
A fresh and clean wine with blackberry, blueberry and salty character. Medium body and firm and silky tannins. Rating: 90-91 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2018)
This wine, a joint project between Denis Durantou and Thierry Courreche, is 100% Merlot, picked 26th September until October 6th. The élevage will be in second-fill barrels. As usual it has a richly expressive nose, with rich plum aromatics, floral but with an almost roasted level of intensity. There follows a very interesting palate, richly composed, very fresh too though, crushed red plum skins, with plenty of fine grip. It feels substantial, composed, really richly textured, but fresh and grippy. Impressive. And to think this is his entry level wine. Rating: 91-93 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2018)