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 is now overseeing the winemaking. The vineyard is planted with 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.
A deeply intense and plush Pomerol with immaculately ripe fruit and tannins. So well executed with aromas of truffle, dark stones, coal smoke and intense dark plums and cocoa powder. The palate has an immaculate texture with very bright, velvety tannins, carrying rich dark plums. Plum pudding and Christmas cake to close. Try from 2025.
A blend of 65% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Franc and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, the medium garnet-purple colored 2016 Certan de May offers up notes of wild blueberries, black cherries and raspberry leaves with hints of black tea, roses and tar. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers a wonderful quiet intensity of blue, red and black fruits plus a fine-grained backbone and superb freshness, delivery and very long, mineral-tinged finish. 2019 - 2040
This is a little more stately and measured than some, with ground coffee and deep extraction of blackberry and bilberry. There is slightly less vibrancy running through the palate, but it remains a solidly impressive wine. 65% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Franc and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon from clay and deep gravel.
Dark crimson. Particularly rich, curranty nose. Really quite intense. And then on the palate it's all freshness and light. Should be a long-distance runner. Lots of sinew.
Drink 2026-2044
The fruit on the nose is sweet and ripe the palate has black plum richness. Fleshy and supple in the middle yet there is underlying bramble freshness lighter at the back the finish has depth of fruit rich and ripe. 2026-36
Well situated on the plateau of Pomerol, with a combination of clay and gravel soils, this is very fine and well balanced in 2016, with a lightness of touch that is beguiling. Fresh and grassy with crunchy acidity and fine-grained tannins. 2022-32
This is really powerful with big tannins and strong acidity. Full and intense. A wine for long-term aging yet one that offers accessibility at the same time. This estate is on a roll now.
The 2016 Certan de May is a blend of 65% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Franc and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a perfumed bouquet with bright red fruit laced with wilted rose petals, the oak nicely integrated, although it just lacks a little complexity compared to other recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied and felt rather "skinny" on the entry with some hardness to the tannin. Linear and austere, this is a perplexing showing of a Pomerol that I have a lot of time for, continuing a patchy run of form.
Drink Date 2020 - 2035