Wine Advisor
Certan de May 2022
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: William Kelley
The 2022 Certan de May opens in the glass with aromas of cherries, minty berries, spices and fruitcake, followed by a medium to full-bodied, pure and fleshy palate that's lively and harmonious, with good depth and a classically proportioned profile.
Reviewed by: William Kelley
The 2022 Certan de May has turned out nicely in bottle, bursting with aromas of minty blackberries and creamy new oak, followed by a medium to full-bodied, lively and polished palate that's fleshy, suave and nicely balanced. This charming Pomerol is another strong effort for this discreet but well-located estate opposite Vieux Château Certan.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2022 Certan de May has a lightweight bouquet with tertiary black fruit that lacks the panache of its peers. It has plenty of sous-bois, but there is a shortfall of fruit intensity. The palate has a light chassis with fine tannins. This is balanced yet missing real drive and vigor, plus there is an absence of grip on the finish, a shortcoming exposed by juxtaposition with its peers. Sadly, this Pomerol does not move me when I know it can.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
The bramble berry and blueberry character with violets and black olives comes through clearly here. It’s full-bodied yet the quality of the tannins are polished and attractive. Strength with appeal. 60% merlot, 30% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
The opulent fruit character is excellent with strawberry, blueberry and raspberry puree as well as some violets. Almost exotic. Medium- to full-bodied, this has tight and integrated tannins that are very fine-grained. 60% merlot, 30% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon. This is an exquisitely polished young 2022. Drink after 2028.
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.
