2017 Château Saintayme, St.-Émilion

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.