Firm Buy Recommendations – Les Cruzelles & Saintayme 2017

It is no secret that we are huge fans of the satellite wines made by the Durantou family and their long-time collaborator Olivier Gautrat. Les Cruzelles, Saintayme (Saintem in Europe), Montlandrie and Chenade offer phenomenal value for money and immediate drinking pleasure. They all provide refinement, grace and textural finesse that defies their modest price tags. We are delighted to propose a parcel of the excellent 2017 Les Cruzelles and Saintayme, perfect choices for autumnal and festive drinking.

2017 Bordeaux, like 2021, was not an exalted vintage. A tricky growing season and following the stunning 2016 vintage set it on a difficult path. However, at nearly 10 years old, this underrated year has frequently surprised and delighted for its drinkability, much more so than the great high-scoring recent vintages, which remain in their drinking infancy. This parcel demonstrates our point perfectly. 2017 Les Cruzelles is dark and brooding with an intensely black fruited character of mulberries, cherry and blackcurrant allied with liquorice and mineral infused cassis. Saintayme 2017, as usual, is 100% Merlot and reveals a beautiful floral charm alongside the rich and opulent red berry and plum fruit character, all infused with charcoal, lavender and coiled around beautifully svelte tannins.

Antonio Galloni described Cruzelles as “another drop-dead gorgeous beauty in this range from Denis Durantou”. Neal Martin called it “Excellent”. He mused, on tasting Saintayme 2017 from barrel, that “you could almost run away and drink this already!” Antonio Galloni confirmed this from bottle, saying “The 2017 Saintayme is an attractive wine with plenty of near and medium-term appeal… [it] offers lovely immediacy”.