Château Certan de May Château Certan de May

Pomerol, France

Vintage:2016 (Current)

2014 (Past) | 2015 (Past) | 2017 (Current) | 2018 (Current)

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Château Certan de May Château Certan de May 2016
  • JS 98
  • D 96
  • V 95
  • WA 94+
  • WE 94

Reviews

Wine Enthusiast 94 Points May 1, 2019, Roger Voss

“Poised and elegant, this wine comes from a 13.5-acre estate within stone-throwing distance of Pétrus. Its richness is sublimated by pure red-berry fruits and acidity to give a balanced wine with stylish tannins. Drink from 2024.”

Decanter 96 Points April 2019, Jane Anson

“It's hard to beat the location of this estate - right opposite Vieux Château Certan, in that magic triangle by Le Pin and Petrus. Flavours of cold ash, cedar, liquorice, slate, damson and black cherry are set off with a pulse of minerality. I just love this wine, it's wonderfully rich and expressive. and yet young, poised and held back. A physically exciting wine with tension, making it so easy to recommend.”

JamesSuckling.com 98 Points February 4, 2019, James Suckling

“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.”

Vinous Media 95 Points January 2019, Antonio Galloni

“The 2016 Certan de May is a powerful, dense wine, just as it was en primeur. A blast of grilled herbs, leather, smoke, tobacco, licorice and dark-fleshed fruits makes a strong opening statement. Potent and strap in feel, Certan de May shows the more virile side of Pomerol. The profile is decidedly sepia-toned. Readers should plan on being patient with the 2016. It is a jewel of a wine that just needs bottle age to be at its best.”

The Wine Advocate 94+ Points November 30, 2018, Lisa Perrotti-Brown

“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.”

Overview

The origins of Château Certan de May date back to the very beginnings of Pomerol. The de May family, who settled in France from Scotland in the Middle Ages, were gifted the property by royal decree in the 16th century as a gesture of thanks for services rendered to the crown of France. The estate began producing wine in the 18th century and was managed by descendants of the de May de Certans until 1925, when it passed to the Barreau family.

Situated on Pomerol’s prized central plateau, surrounded by illustrious neighbors such as Vieux Château Certan and La Fleur-Pétrus, Château Certan de May has long been considered one of the finest estates of the appellation. The wines owe their complexity to the vineyard’s soil composition, a combination of clay and gravel that bring together power and elegance, structure and freshness. The balance of the wines from Château Certan de May illustrates the unique complementarity of these terroirs.

Owner Jean-Luc Barreau applies all of his care and attention to producing a wine in the great tradition of his forebears. Vinified under the guidance of renowned consultant Jean-Claude Berrouet since the 2013 vintage, Château Certan de May benefits from the best winemaking know-how.

Tasting Notes

The wine is rich, powerful, complex; while it can be enjoyed after a few years of cellaring, its structure and natural depth lend it great ageability.

Harvest Notes

The 2016 climatic year was composed of two distinct parts. First, a cool and wet spring with record rainfall (259 mm from April to June, compared to 108 mm during the same period in 2015). A short break from the rain in May allowed for a quick and even flowering.

The weather shifted in mid-June, giving way to clear skies and warm temperatures through mid- September. The warm, dry weather that set in over the summer resulted in drought conditions, but vineyards planted on water-retentive soils, such as the deep clay of Pomerol, fared well.

The vegetative cycle slowed over the summer months, but rain in mid-september allowed the grapes to reach full maturity. At harvest, the berries were crunchy, gorged with sugar yet fresh at the same time, with intense notes of black fruit, the skins redolent with mild tannins, the seeds crisp.

Technical Information

Varietals: 65% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Franc, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon

Soil Composition: Clay and deep gravel

Average Vine Age: 35 years