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.

Director and co-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. 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. 

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.

After a generally mild and dry winter, punctuated by a few cold spells, a homogenous budbreak augured favorably for a promising harvest.

In April and May, stormy instability combined with above average seasonal temperatures increased the mildew pressure. However, thanks to the exemplary rapid response of the vineyard teams, these attacks were adeptly countered, saving the entire crop.

During the flowering, a large quantity of pollen suggesting a harvest of remarkable amplitude.

The summer was unpredictable, with episodes in June of intense storms and high temperatures that were 3°C above the seasonal average. July was relatively cool, with light but frequent rainfall. The vines maintained their lead and véraison got under way.

August got off to a fairly cool start before tipping over to an intense heatwave from the 16th to the 24th, followed by a sudden drop in temperature. Hours of sunshine were below expectations, departing from the sunny character of recent vintages. In September, a heat wave struck again until the 11th, giving way to light rainfall, which encouraged full ripening.

The harvest took place under summer conditions from the 13th to the 26th of September.