Wine Advisor
Certan de May 2011
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
An impressive effort from this well-situated estate sandwiched between Vieux Chateau Certan, Petrus and La Fleur Petrus, Certan de May’s dense ruby/purple-colored 2011 exhibits a big, spicy, earthy, plum and black-fruited nose, a medium to full-bodied, masculine style, and some noticeable tannins still to be shed. Cellar it for 2-3 years and drink it over the following 12-15.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted twice at JP Moueix and the Syndicate de Pomerol. The Certan-de-May has a gorgeous bouquet with superb fruit intensity: macerated red cherries, raspberry and wild strawberry, all very pure and exuberant. The palate is full-bodied with svelte tannins, very good depth and cohesion with wonderful build in the mouth towards a structured finish. It does not quite have the persistency or the complexity to rank alongside the top-flight wines in recent vintage, but this is an excellent Pomerol 2011. Tasted April 2012.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Hints of bay leaf, creme de cassis, incense, damp earth and graphite are present in this ripe, medium to full-bodied, soft, evolved Pomerol. Deep plum/crimson, it should drink nicely for 12-15+ years.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2011 Certan-de-May has a well-defined and fresh bouquet, quintessentially Pomerol with a touch of black truffle. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, well-judged acidity, good backbone with black pepper and cedar towards the slightly dry but still appealing finish. Fine. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
Aromas and flavors of dark berries and chocolate follow through to a a full body, with chewy tannins and a medium finish. Well done for the vintage.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
The aromas in this 2011 are impressive, with flowers, plums and currants. Full body with velvety tannins and pretty, ripe, juicy fruit. A tad hollow in the center palate but it doesn’t matter - still outstanding. Better in 2017.
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.
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