Château Saintayme, St Émilion, 2022

Name: Château Saintayme, St Émilion
Brand: Château Saintayme
Price: 18.85 GBP

Available Vintages

all 2017 2022 2023 2024

justerini & brooks tasting note

This is the third vintage made by Noémie Durantou and Olivier Gautrat, and for us the most successful range to date. From the juicy griotte character of the Saintayme to the imperious L'Eglise Clinet, every wine displays its distinctive terroir signature with aplomb. Despite its 100% Merlot composition, Saintayme is always the last plot to be harvested due to its cool soils. Packed with sweet dark cherries and bitter herbs, there's ample glossy, concentrated fruit on the mid-palate, framed by creamy tannins. This is plush and supple - a very good Saintayme.

critic reviews

91/100Chris Kissack,The Wine Independent

This is 100% Merlot as always, and the élevage was in 30% new oak. This has confident and forward fruit expression on the nose, all blackberry, blueberry and cherry, with a desiccated edge, and a touch of toasty warmth. A polished, modest substance on the palate, medium-bodied with a rich core of dark summer fruits, concentrated with a touch of confit depth, and a rich backbone of finely knit tannins. A robust example of the appellation, with powdery and chalky substance, and a energy which will need only a handful of years in bottle to bed in. Tasted twice. The alcohol is 14.4% on analysis.

DRINKING WINDOW 2026 - 2042

date of review 06/2025

93/100Jane Anson,Inside Bordeaux

Plenty of depth on the nose here, not easy in a vintage where alcohols run high, that can cut off aromatics and terroir expression. Enjoyable, reserved, great quality, love the limestone scrap, plenty of character, touch of floral notes that underline a rise through the palate. Takes its time. 30% new oak, harvest September 17 to October 3. Tasted twice.

DRINKING WINDOW 2028 - 2042

date of review 03/2025

90/100Neal Martin,Vinous

The 2022 Saintayme conveys a sense of joy on the nose, with finely delineated vivacious black cherries, wild strawberry and a hint of cola. The medium-bodied palate is well balanced and quite elegant in style, with more black than red fruit, grainy tannins and a touch of white pepper on the finish. It feels malleable in the mouth and will drink slightly earlier than I expected out of barrel.

DRINKING WINDOW 2026 - 2038

date of review 02/2025

88-90/100William Kelley,Robert Parker Wine Advocate

From a later-ripening site in Saint-Etienne-de-Lisse, the 2022 Saintayme was picked between September 17 and October 3. Offering up a rich aromatic palette featuring aromas of rich cherries, berries, licorice and toasty oak, it's medium to full-bodied, broad and concentrated, with youthfully firm, chalky tannins that assert themselves on the finish.

date of review 06/2023