| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Pomerol |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
This perfectly situated 5.5 hectare property lies directly opposite Vieux Chateau Certan and close to l'Evangile, La Conseillante, Petrus and Le Pin. There is no doubt that when they get it right here they are capable of producing Pomerol of the highest quality. However quality was rather hit and miss in the past. The good news is that legendary Pomerol winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet has been overseeing the winemaking since 2013. The vineyard is planted with 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.
View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Certan de May
The 2017 Certan de May is a blend of 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, the wine charges out of the gate with bold expressions of preserved plums, blueberry compote and redcurrant jelly plus nuances of pencil shavings, forest floor and truffles. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers elegantly played black fruits and earthy accents with a lovely frame of fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with a quiet intensity. 2022 - 2045
There’s a striking sense of deeply ripe plums on the nose, as well as notes of forest wood, black truffle, wet earth and sous bois. The palate has regal tannin shape and texture. Quite powerful but supple, the tannins carry long and fresh with ripe dark-plum flavors. Try from 2022.
The two Cabernets make their presence felt right from the off, with some clear floral notes. This is an attractive Certan de May, not quite the joyful delivery of the last few years, but controlled, restrained and complex. It has lovely complexity, and the power is delivered with a light touch, with a slatey texture accompanied by rich black cherry and sweet gooseberry fool notes. A very attractive wine that manages to make the most of these slightly underripe fruit notes by adding juice and layers.
Drinking Window 2024 - 2036
Deep smudgy crimson. Gorgeous dusty graphite nose and pure cassis fruit. Smells refined even before you taste it. But then unexpected oak sweetness on the palate, tannins are sufficient but moderate. Dies a little on the finish, so that the oak dominates for now. The palate was a bit disappointing after the promising aromas.
Drink 2023-2030
Damson rich fruit the nose has depth sweet and ripe the start of the palate is fleshy supple. The sweet fruit at the back is balanced by blueberry freshness lighter although sweet fruit does come through on the finish. 2025-35
There is a lovely decadence to the nose here and the vibrancy of the palate is superb. Active and energetic this is a ripe wine but it has retained a suave, refreshing edge to it which elevates the fruit on the nose and also underpins it and also lengthens it on the palate. Impressive, but youthful, this is a wine to watch
This is very serious for the vintage with a full body, very polished tannins and a long finish. Well done.
A final blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Certan de May is scented of bay leaves, crushed blackcurrants and blackberries with black pepper and tilled earth nuances. The medium to full-bodied mouth is firm and chewy with tightly knit fruit and an herb-laced finish.
