Saintayme 2019

Saintayme is one of the hidden values of Bordeaux.  This extraordinary wine from Saint-Émilion was lovingly crafted by one of the master vignerons of the Right Bank, Denis Durantou.  Denis Durantou prematurely passed away in 2020, after a long fight with cancer.  It was a tremendous loss deeply felt by the wine world.  He was a true “winemaker’s winemaker,” and had shrewd observations about Bordeaux.  He brought his extraordinary talents both to the vineyard and the vat room and specialized in crafting exquisite and multidimensional expressions of Merlot.  But perhaps the most refreshing part about Denis Durantou was his humility and stubborn desire to keep the pricing of his wines fair.  In a region home to the most exorbitantly priced wines in the world, this sense of authenticity was truly refreshing and admired by all who knew him.

Saintayme was purchased by Denis Durantou in 1985.  The wine is named Saintayme after the nickname for the Saint-Émilion appellation.  This Saint-Émilion Grand Cru property is a part of a 9 hectare vineyard planted with almost 100% Merlot and a small portion of Cabernet Franc.  Denis Durantou always had a keen understanding of Merlot and was able to work well with this often mishandled varietal.  The property is located within the up and coming Saint Etienne de Lisse commune where the climate is significantly cooler from the rest of the region.  The terroir here is limestone, clay and gravel – very similar to some of the top vineyards in Saint-Émilion.  With prestigious neighbors such as Château Valandraud and Château Fleur Cardinale, Saintayme is home to some terroir whose potential knows no bounds.  The same technical team that makes the wine of Denis Durantou’s flagship property, L’Eglise Clinet, diligently tends to the vines at Saintayme and crafts the wine at this estate.  For those unfamiliar with L’Eglise Clinet, the estate is one of the jewels of Pomerol, with grand vin that is comparable in quality to the giants within the appellation.  In the true spirit of the Durantou family, the wine is humbly priced, making it a true insider’s wine.   

Denis Durantou owns other properties within the Right Bank, such as Château Les Cruzelles within the Lalande de Pomerol appellation and Château Montlandrie within the Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux appellation.  Though the vines at Saintayme are not owned by the Durantou family and are on a long-term leasing agreement, the technical team puts plenty of effort in making sure the wine is of the highest quality.  The wine is fermented in stainless steel vats to preserve freshness and ensure there is better control of the yeasts and bacteria.  Saintayme is then aged in 30% new French oak for about 14 months.  Saintayme is a true Right Bank gem, with luscious black fruit qualities and plenty of floral aromas.  Scores have been on the rise for this hidden treasure of a property, culminating in the low 90s.  At the current price point, the wine overdelivers  and despite Denis’ passing, Saintayme is still a wonderful part of his legacy.

"There was water when it was needed from July to September, a rapid flowering, cool nights, colour change which varied according to the grape varieties but which was homogeneous overall, and a harvest in fine dry conditions. Everything is great in 2019!2019 Saintem Saintayme (St Emilion Grand Cru) is 100% Merlot. The Merlot was picked between the 1st of October and the 4th of October. 14.50% ALC. New oak: 30%."

"The 2019 Saintayme offers up a veritable explosion of sweet red cherry, kirsch and floral notes. Deep and lush, with tremendous freshness, Saintayme is terrific in 2019. In fact, this is one of the better recent vintages I can remember tasting. The purity of fruit and overall energy are both remarkable, while the harder edges and slightly savory qualities that can be present are barely perceptible. The 2019 is 100% Merlot picked between October 1 and 4. Denis Durantou's 2019s are absolutely brilliant across the board. My tasting was obviously bittersweet, as Durantou lost his battle with illness just a few weeks prior. Denis Durantou was one of the most intriguing characters in Bordeaux. I can't say I knew him well, but I always enjoyed tasting with him, as he was a person that spoke more with his eyes than with words. Things were implied rather than overtly stated. So, I tasted the 2019s with daughters Constance and Noémie over Zoom, in typical 2020 fashion. The Durantou sisters describe 2019 as a year with an early flowering and homogenous ripening that led to small, concentrated berries and higher pHs than normal. Temperatures were kept cool in the cellar, where both alcoholic and malolactic fermentations took place over cuvaison of 21 days (for all wines), in a reductive enviroment with little oxygen. From top to bottom, the Durantou 2019s are positively stellar. Don't miss them!" - Antonio Galloni, Vinous, (06/18/2020), Ratings: 92-94

"I wasn't able to taste the 2019 Saintayme from barrel, but it's solid from bottle, offering a medium-bodied, elegant profile that's very much in the style of the vintage. Ripe black cherries, mulberries, crushed stone, graphite, and sappy flowers all emerge from the glass, and it's focused, firm, and straight on the palate. It’s going to benefit from bottle age." - Jeb Dunnuck, (04/11/2022), Ratings: 92+

"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." - Jane Anson, (12/06/2021), Ratings: 92, Drink: 2024-2036

"A red with lovely, juicy character and plenty of ripe fruit and chocolate undertones. It’s rich and layered. Flavorful. More concentration than the 2018." - James Suckling, Ratings: 93-94