Appellations

Saintayme 2020

St Emilion, Grand Cru

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Tasting Notes

The 2020 Saintayme is every bit as charming as it was en primeur. Racy and layered in the glass, this mid-weight Saint-Émilion is quite open and accessible today. Crushed red berry fruit, spice, white pepper, rose petal and a touch of new oak are all nicely put together. I would give this a few years to come together, as the tannins are a bit nervy today. There's terrific energy and vibrancy here. Pretty floral accents liven up the finish.

Score: 92 Antonio Galloni, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2025-2035 Date: 23 February 2023

The 2020 Saintayme is bright, punchy and wonderfully vibrant. Sweet perfumed floral notes, red berry fruit, cedar and cinnamon lend terrific aromatic brightness. In 2020, Saintayme is a bit nervy and less fleshy than it can be. This is the first vintage made without microbullage, a technique that was previously used in some of the tanks here. I expect that will serve it well in the years to come, as the 2020 has an extra level of purity that is striking. As always, Saintayme is a selection from a 15-hectare property in Saint-Émilion's Saint Etienne de Lys district, made with a Burgundian approach in which the wine is vinified by the owner and then raised by the Durantou family.

Score: 91 - 93 Antonio Galloni, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2026-2040 Date: 01 June 2021

Plenty of St Emilion signature, with the lift and oyster shell salinity that you find on the plateau. Intense, bitter and tight at first, opening to show vivid bright plum and raspberry fruits. 30% new oak, harvest September 28 to 30. Noemie Durantou winemaker alongside Olivier Gautrat.

Score: 92 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2024-2040 Date: 15 February 2023

Deep crimson colour, plenty of deep bilberry fruits, firm tannins and good tension; a lot to like about this wine. Closes in on the finish, pretty serious in feel overall, muscular, but has the deft kick upwards that you find in many limestone-led wines in the vintage. The first year with Constance and Noemie Durantou at the helm, having taken over from their late father Denis (Noemie in particular had also worked alongside him for several years as winemaker, along with cellar master Olivier Gautrat).

Score: 92 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2027 - 2042 Date: 01 May 2021

The 2020 Saintayme has opened up nicely on the nose since I tasted it from barrel. Black cherries, raspberry coulis, and a background estuarine scent. This is very well-defined and cohesive. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly granular texture, fine acidity, black fruit with a touch of orange rind, just a little rigidity on the finish that will be addressed by a couple of years in bottle. This is a lovely Saintayme that may deserve a higher score down the line.

Score: 89 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2025-2036 Date: 08 February 2023

The 2020 Saintayme is more backward on the nose than expected and demands coaxing from the glass. Eventually it offers tightly wound blackberry, wild hedgerow and black truffle scents, an inviting marine/seaweed scent emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannins that frame the sweet black cherry, bilberry and licorice notes. Quite linear toward the finish, it does not fan out like the 2018, although it feels long and persistent. Give this Saint-Émilion 3–4 years in bottle if you can.

Score: 87 - 89 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2025-2036 Date: 01 May 2021

Another gem from Denis Durantou, the 2020 Saintayme should be snatched up by savvy readers, as it’s a year-in, year-out value, and in a vintage where Merlot excelled, it’s a real standout. Black cherries, mulberries, camphor, chocolate, and subtle oak notes all emerge from the glass, and it’s medium to full-bodied, balanced, and has a great mix of richness and freshness. Drink bottles over the coming 10-12 years.

Score: 91 - 93 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Date: 25 May 2021

The 2020 Saintayme is 100% Merlot, harvested between the 28th and the 30th of September. It has an alcohol of 14.5% and is aging in French oak barrels, 30% new. Deep purple-black colored, it needs a little coaxing to unlock scents of tar, forest floor and aniseed, over a core of baked black plums, blackberry pie and chocolate-covered cherries, plus a touch of dried mint. The full-bodied palate is densely packed with muscular black fruits and loads of earthy accents, framed by firm, rounded tannins and just enough freshness, finishing on a lingering minty note. 63,000 bottles are expected to be made.

Score: 90 - 92 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2024 - 2038 Date: 21 May 2021

100% Merlot. Brand from the Durantou (L’Eglise-Clinet) stable. Cask sample. Zesty and fresh on the nose with berry-fruit aromas. Round and sweet but juicy as well, the tannins light and grainy. Bit of alcohol on the finish but consistent in quality and style. (JL)

Score: - Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Date: 09 May 2021

A gorgeous red with so much black fruit and salty, mineral character. It’s medium-to full-bodied with creamy, polished tannins and a long finish. The precision and fine texture is impressive. One of the best I have had for a while.

Score: 94 - 95 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 20 April 2021