Chateau Saintayme 2016

Professional Ratings

• 93 James Suckling
  Beautiful aromas of blackberries and blueberries with licorice. Medium-bodied, juicy and delicious with lots of succulent fruit and a hazelnut and berry aftertaste. Delicious already. Drink or hold.
• 92 Jeb Dunnuck
  Checking in as all Merlot and made by Denis Durantou (of l’Eglise Clinet), the stunning 2016 Saintayme knocks it out of the park. Deep purple-colored with a rock star nose of plums, black raspberries, crushed violets, and some obvious minerality, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, an elegant texture, good mid-palate concentration, and a great finish. It’s complex, elegant, and powerful. Bravo! Readers should snatch up this beauty and enjoy bottles over the coming decade.
• 92 Decanter
  The impressive thing with Denis Durantou is the accomplishment shown across his entire range and the precision of his work with tannins. These are not insubstantial wines, and here there is a richness and shape to the structure as it moves through your mouth. Black cherry fruit is accompanied by a lovely freshness and chewy but extremely well placed tannins that hold, hold, hold, before backing off for a lift on the finish. 100% Merlot from 9ha, picked between 9th and 15th October and yielding 50hl/ha. Aged in 30% new oak.
• 91 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
  The 2016 Saintayme has a medium garnet-purple color and opens with cedary scents over a core of black and red plums, kirsch and unsmoked cigars plus a touch of smoked meats. Medium to full-bodied and packed with savory layers, it has a solid frame of grainy tannins and a nice, long finish.
• 91 Wine Spectator
  Solid, offering a core of steeped plum and cassis flavors inlaid liberally with warm tobacco and roasted cedar notes. Features a fleshy, rounded feel through the finish, with the toasty side lingering. Drink now through 2028.