12 May 2022

Released yesterday afternoon, 2021 Les Cruzelles, La Chenade, Montlandrie and Saintayme from the Durantou family are right up amongst the best value wines we know of from Bordeaux.  This is the first year we have visited since Denis Durantou passed away in 2020 and we were delighted to see that his daughters Alix, Noemie and Constance, along with oenologist Oliver Gautrat, continue to run this as a family business. 

We tasted with Constance Durantou, who has recently returned to the domaine after working in the diplomatic service in London.   With hilarious wit and a command of English which extends to a 'Sarf London' accent (for comic effect), she also exuded an intense focus and impressive attention to detail when it came to the wines.  Constance's sister Noémie is the winemaker, working with Gautrat, who worked with Denis Durantou for two decades.

The style of all four wines in 2021 is less about power and offers more perfumed aroma and mineral, saline energy than recent vintages, which is no bad thing.  Once again, we suggest going 'deep' on all four estates, we doubt you will be anything other than delighted as you enjoy the wines over the coming decade.  

Landing spring 2024.

Producer Profile

Château Saintayme, St.-Emilion

Saintayme (known and labelled in some markets as Saintem) is from a 9 hectare parcel of vines on a long-term lease to the Durantous.  A single plot of Merlot in St-Etienne-de-Lisse, the terroir here is limestone, clay and gravel, with the vines averaging 35 years of age.