Appellations

Certan de May 2018

Pomerol

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Tasting Notes
The 2018 Certan de May has come together nicely over the last nearly two years. Some of the more angular edges has soften. Today, what comes through is an attractive Pomerol laced with hints of red, purplish fruit, lavender and spice. There is good depth to the 2018 if not quite the complexity or nuance of the best wines in the appellation. Overall, Certan de May is fruity and rather one dimensional. Drink it over the next two decades, give or take. Score: 91 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2026 - 2038 Date: 26 August 2021
The 2018 Certan de May is a potent, brooding wine. Elevated ripeness and big tannins are two of the signatures in this decidedly ample, potent Pomerol. It will be interesting to see where élevage takes the 2018. Today, my impression is that Certan de May is one of the more pushed Pomerols of the vintage. Time will tell. Score: 90 - 93 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 01 April 2019
The 2018 Certan de May disappoints on the nose. It just seems to lack the energy of other Pomerols, feeling a static in the glass, and displaying broody black fruit with light black pepper notes and an odd, almost onion-like scent. The palate is slightly better... but not much. Lacking cohesion and grip, it feels rather rustic and lacks the breeding of other vintages of Certain-de-May that I have tasted. Even leaving the bottle to open for several hours does it no favors, and yet again, I am left scratching my head. Score: 85 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2022 - 2028 Date: 18 August 2021
The 2018 Certan de May continues a series of recent vintages that have left me perplexed. The nose does not meld together like others, feels a little rustic with ferrous red berry fruit that sing from a different hymn sheet to the oak. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly dry tannins. This feels introverted and a bit dour compared to its peers, with a lightly spiced, tobacco tinged finish. Where has the great Certan de May wines of the past gone? Score: 86 - 88 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2022-2030 Date: 01 November 2019
The 2018 Château Certan De May has come together beautifully since I tasted it from barrel. This blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon is medium to full-bodied and has a rounded, fruit loaded texture, some background smoky oak, and a great finish. This pleasure- bent, ripe, sexy Pomerol is the finest vintage I've tasted to date. Drink bottles over the coming 15-20 years. Score: 94 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Maturity: 2021 - 2041 Date: 18 July 2021
One of the inkier colored wines in the Moueix portfolio, the 2018 Château Certan De May checks in as 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Offering a beautiful blueberry fruit component as well as graphite and subtle minerality, it's youthful and unevolved on the palate yet has medium to full body, present tannins, and good overall purity. It's going to need 3-4 years of bottle age, but this is another beautiful wine and possibly one of the finest to date from this château. Score: 92 - 94 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Date: 01 May 2019
The 2018 Certan de May is a blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Sporting a medium to deep garnet-purple color, it features notes of black cherry compote, black raspberries and plum preserves, plus suggestions of underbrush, Sichuan pepper, dried Provence herbs and cedar chest. The elegantly styled, medium-bodied palate is filled with expressive black berry and earthy layers, supported by grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing with an herbal lift. Score: 91 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2022 - 2035 Date: 11 July 2021
The 2018 Certan de May is composed of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it sings of red cherry compote, redcurrant jelly and black raspberries with nuances of potpourri, fallen leaves, tapenade and cinnamon toast plus a waft of cigar box. The palate is medium to full-bodied with a wonderfully plush texture and seamless freshness supporting the generous fruit, finishing long with a spicy kick. Score: 93 - 95 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Date: 23 April 2019
This is serious and very good quality, less seductive than some Pomerols, focusing instead on elegance and gentle spice but it has pretty high floral aromatics – more than on many, with the Cabernet Franc already clearly playing its role. It’s definitely one to age. There are clay and deep gravels at this lovely estate located directly opposite Vieux Château Certan. The new winery should be ready for the 2019 vintage. Score: 94 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2026-2040 Date: 15 April 2019
The finesse and density to this young Pomerol is certainly impressive with gorgeous plum and floral character, full body and a very long and caressing finish. Score: 95 - 96 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 11 April 2019
Offers a nice display of fruit, with cassis, boysenberry and plum flavors all wrapped together. The ample structure is polished and integrated. Anise details flash on the finish. Well-built. Score: 93 - 96 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Date: 01 April 2019

Tasting Notes

The 2018 Certan de May has come together nicely over the last nearly two years. Some of the more angular edges has soften. Today, what comes through is an attractive Pomerol laced with hints of red, purplish fruit, lavender and spice. There is good depth to the 2018 if not quite the complexity or nuance of the best wines in the appellation. Overall, Certan de May is fruity and rather one dimensional. Drink it over the next two decades, give or take.

Score: 91 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2026 - 2038 Date: 26 August 2021

The 2018 Certan de May is a potent, brooding wine. Elevated ripeness and big tannins are two of the signatures in this decidedly ample, potent Pomerol. It will be interesting to see where élevage takes the 2018. Today, my impression is that Certan de May is one of the more pushed Pomerols of the vintage. Time will tell.

Score: 90 - 93 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 01 April 2019

The 2018 Certan de May disappoints on the nose. It just seems to lack the energy of other Pomerols, feeling a static in the glass, and displaying broody black fruit with light black pepper notes and an odd, almost onion-like scent. The palate is slightly better... but not much. Lacking cohesion and grip, it feels rather rustic and lacks the breeding of other vintages of Certain-de-May that I have tasted. Even leaving the bottle to open for several hours does it no favors, and yet again, I am left scratching my head.

Score: 85 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2022 - 2028 Date: 18 August 2021

The 2018 Certan de May continues a series of recent vintages that have left me perplexed. The nose does not meld together like others, feels a little rustic with ferrous red berry fruit that sing from a different hymn sheet to the oak. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly dry tannins. This feels introverted and a bit dour compared to its peers, with a lightly spiced, tobacco tinged finish. Where has the great Certan de May wines of the past gone?

Score: 86 - 88 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2022-2030 Date: 01 November 2019

The 2018 Château Certan De May has come together beautifully since I tasted it from barrel. This blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon is medium to full-bodied and has a rounded, fruit loaded texture, some background smoky oak, and a great finish. This pleasure- bent, ripe, sexy Pomerol is the finest vintage I've tasted to date. Drink bottles over the coming 15-20 years.

Score: 94 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Maturity: 2021 - 2041 Date: 18 July 2021

One of the inkier colored wines in the Moueix portfolio, the 2018 Château Certan De May checks in as 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Offering a beautiful blueberry fruit component as well as graphite and subtle minerality, it's youthful and unevolved on the palate yet has medium to full body, present tannins, and good overall purity. It's going to need 3-4 years of bottle age, but this is another beautiful wine and possibly one of the finest to date from this château.

Score: 92 - 94 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Date: 01 May 2019

The 2018 Certan de May is a blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Sporting a medium to deep garnet-purple color, it features notes of black cherry compote, black raspberries and plum preserves, plus suggestions of underbrush, Sichuan pepper, dried Provence herbs and cedar chest. The elegantly styled, medium-bodied palate is filled with expressive black berry and earthy layers, supported by grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing with an herbal lift.

Score: 91 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2022 - 2035 Date: 11 July 2021

The 2018 Certan de May is composed of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it sings of red cherry compote, redcurrant jelly and black raspberries with nuances of potpourri, fallen leaves, tapenade and cinnamon toast plus a waft of cigar box. The palate is medium to full-bodied with a wonderfully plush texture and seamless freshness supporting the generous fruit, finishing long with a spicy kick.

Score: 93 - 95 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Date: 23 April 2019

This is serious and very good quality, less seductive than some Pomerols, focusing instead on elegance and gentle spice but it has pretty high floral aromatics – more than on many, with the Cabernet Franc already clearly playing its role. It’s definitely one to age. There are clay and deep gravels at this lovely estate located directly opposite Vieux Château Certan. The new winery should be ready for the 2019 vintage.

Score: 94 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2026-2040 Date: 15 April 2019

The finesse and density to this young Pomerol is certainly impressive with gorgeous plum and floral character, full body and a very long and caressing finish.

Score: 95 - 96 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 11 April 2019

Offers a nice display of fruit, with cassis, boysenberry and plum flavors all wrapped together. The ample structure is polished and integrated. Anise details flash on the finish. Well-built.

Score: 93 - 96 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Date: 01 April 2019

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