Château Saintayme, St Émilion, 2022
Denis Durantou is famed for his wonderful Pomerol estate, Chateau L'Eglise Clinet, but he has spread his wings to St Emilion, Lalande de Pomerol and Castillon, and it is perhaps in these communes that he has best demonstrated his Midas touch. Year after year, the likes of La Chenade and Montlandrie have topped our best value poll, and now we are seeing Saintayme and Cruzelles appearing there too. This 100% Merlot cuvee from a 9 hectare plot offers intense fruit pastel aromas, fine herbs, black cherries with a hint of sandalwood and liquorice. It is mighty impressive with a big juicy core of fruit and a deep, gravelly, earthy minerality. There is plenty of intensity to the fruit, a good sappy quality, and really suave tannins. Bravo.
critic reviews
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.
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.
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.
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.