France

Saintayme

Saintayme Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Bordeaux

Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Cool ruby plum in colour, this has earthy blackberry and blueberry fruit, a gentle touch of grilled cedar and gunsmoke, and the same reserved, measured delivery and mouthwatering finish that I found En Primeur. Enjoyable, no need to wait too long to drink this, I would suggest just a year or two more, and it should then stay in its drinking window for a good decade. Harvest September 28 to October 11. 30% new oak.

Inside Bordeaux

The 2021 Saintayme is 100% Merlot and has a deep garnet-purple color. Wonderfully pure scents of black raspberries, mulberries, and wild sage jump from the glass, leading to hints of mossy stones and fallen leaves. The medium-bodied palate is soft and refreshing, with red berry flavors and savory accents, finishing with a lively lift.

by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

Bright, chalky red fruits, nice lift and gentle grip without overdoing things, a little austere on the finish. Harvest September 23 to October 6, yields here were relatively normal at at around 40hl/h, and by the beginning of September they had deleafed on both sides to help ripening. Well handled from Noëmie Durantou. 

Medium intensity ruby, austere tannins on the opening, this has lemongrass and slate, juicy raspberry and grilled spice notes, slow and steady unrolling through the palate. Plenty to love.

Intense muscular contraction to the tannins on the opening beats, the fruit gets creamy as it opens, with vivid raspberry reflections and plenty of mouthwating salinity. This is a pretty serious Saintayme, great quality and great value. Olivier Gautrat alongside Noémie Durantou. Harvest September 17 to October 3 (extremely late for the vintage, because cool clays in a cooler part of St Etienne de Lisse, something you also see in the generous 50hl/h yields), 30% new oak.

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.

Blue fruits, earth, tobacco, as it opens you get rosebud, heather and raspberry leaf, with an austere crushed stone edge. As things open, the fruits become creamier but this could do with a few more years to fully soften. Harvest October 1 to 4. 30% new oak.

2024	No priceNot available	Very Good
2023	No priceNot available	Excellent
2022	No priceNot available	Excellent
2021	No priceNot available	Excellent
2020	No priceNot available	Excellent

Category	Red wine
Vinmonopolet no.
Producer	Saintayme
Vintages	2021
Country	France, Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Bottle	75 cl

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