Wine Advisor
Certan de May 2014
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The Château Certan-de-May 2014 has a commendable bouquet, not complex but with satisfying blackberry and raspberry fruit coming through, touches of chalk dust and tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied with a conservative entry and this continues throughout the wine, rather dry-ish tannins, very linear, nicely composed but missing the joie-de-vivre of some other Pomerol crus, or the charm of say, the Latour-à-Pomerol. It needs to muster something more by the time of bottling given the reputation of this name and the strong performance of past vintages.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2014 Certan de May offers terrific depth and intensity, although it is very much closed in on itself. Dark cherry, tobacco, cedar, mint, licorice and dried flowers gain volume over time. Deceptively medium in body, the 2014 has plenty of underlying tannin as well as enough acidity to drink well for a number of years.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2014 Certan de May has a dusky, animally nose with scents of dried blood and hung game developing with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, grainy tannin, notes of pencil lead infusing the black fruit with just a touch of bitterness on the finish. It feels a little gawky at the moment although I think it might come together. Fingers crossed though I am not optimistic. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
I was not totally convinced by the 2014 Certan de May when I tasted it from barrel and now in bottle, I am not inclined to alter that view. It has a rather banal bouquet, nothing criminally wrong, just rather predictable and missing the joie-de-vivre or the complexity that I have found in other vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin, quite grainy in texture with simple black dusty fruit, yet it tapers away far too quickly on the finish. I was expecting more, but it just does not deliver. Tasted twice with consistent notes.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2014 Certan de May offers terrific depth and intensity, although it is very much closed in on itself. Dark cherry, tobacco, cedar, mint, licorice and dried flowers gain volume over time. Deceptively medium in body, the 2014 has plenty of underlying tannin as well as enough acidity to drink well for a number of years.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
So much blackberry, stone, dried-mushroom and wet-earth character on then nose. Yet it’s a wine that remains clear and focused. Medium-to full-bodied, linear and tannic. A serious wine. Best in years from here. Better in 2022.
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.
1967(1)1988(1)1990(3)2000(1)2001(1)2004(3)2005(6)2006(3)2008(7)2009(1)2010(5)2011(2)
Package Size
12 x 75cl
