Denis Durantou, Saintayme Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, 2021

Saintayme is the Saint-Émilion project of the late, great Denis Durantou — the man behind Pomerol's revered Château L'Église-Clinet — and the same talented team still tends the vines and crafts the wine, now under his daughters Noémie and Constance. It's 100% Merlot from clay-limestone soils, hand-harvested and made with a minimal, precise touch. The result is a generous, polished Saint-Émilion at a fraction of the fame: black cherry and plum, a hint of cocoa and a velvety, fine-grained finish. Pomerol pedigree at a Right Bank value. Drinks well now, will reward a few more years.