Wine Advisor
Certan de May 2001
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
A lovely nose, great definition with black berries, earth, dried fig and even a touch of Xmas cake. Medium-bodied, good acidity, quite rustic but good balance. Natural, quite peppery and elegant on the no-frills finish. Very fine but not long-term. Tasted October 2007.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 2001 is reminiscent of the 1988 Certan de May, but without as much stuffing, depth, and body. A deep ruby/purple color is followed by Medoc-like aromas of cedar, spice box, and black currant fruit as well as a touch of fresh mushrooms. Medium-bodied, with a low acid, herbaceous character, and ripe tannin, this elegant Pomerol will be at its peak between 2005-2014.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
An attractive nose, lacking fruit concentration, but laced with tobacco, damp earth and hedgerow. A supple, quite spicy palate with well-integrated tannins. Blackberry, black pepper and tobacco. Lacks a little harmony and has an attenuated finish. Quite forward for a 2001 but still, it makes fine early drinking (and very well-priced) Pomerol. Tasted December 2005.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 2001 possesses a deep ruby/purple color, followed by Medoc-like aromas of cedar, spice box, and black currant fruit. It is medium-bodied, with a low acid, herbaceous character, and ripe tannin. The 2001 is reminiscent of the 1988 Certan de May, but without as much stuffing, depth, and body. This elegant Pomerol will be at its peak between 2005-2014.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Since Michel Rolland was hired as a consultant in 2003, it appears things are moving forward in a positive manner at Certan de May. However, the 2001 reveals some of the problems this estate’s wines have exhibited in the past, including a distinct herbal component that borders on being vegetal. It possesses a dark plum/ruby color as well as a bouquet of fresh mushrooms intermixed with spice box, bell peppers, and cedar. This medium-bodied, round, elegant but herbaceous Pomerol resembles a Loire Valley Cabernet Franc more than a wine from the appellation’s highly regarded plateau section. Its low acidity and up-front personality suggest it should be consumed over the next 7-10 years. This is one 2001 Pomerol that is significantly behind the quality of the 2000.
About the Producer
Château Certan de May (or to use its full name, Château Certan de May de Certan) is a critically well-regarded wine estate in Pomerol on the Right Bank of Bordeaux, known for its highly sought-after Merlot-based red wine. The De May (or Demay) family were said to be of Scottish origin, but had lived in France since the Middle Ages, and in Pomerol since the late 1500s. The family became masters of the fief of Sertan, the oldest vineyard in the district. This area also covered the modern vineyards of Vieux Château Certan (which lies just over the road from the winery building) and Château Certan-Giraud (since renamed Château Hosanna), but was divided up after the French Revolution. Since the death of the last de May in 1925, the estate has been owned by the Barreau-Badar family and is currently managed by Jean-Luc Barreau. The vineyard covers five hectares (12 acres), with 70 percent planted to Merlot, 25 percent Cabernet Franc and 5 percent Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is aged for 12 to 14 months in French oak barrels, with 60-80 percent new oak. Around 2000 cases are produced each year.
