2017 Certan De May
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The 2017 Certan de May is a powerful, dense wine. Graphite, smoke, grilled herbs and dark red and purplish fruit confer a real sense of gravitas that also comes through in the wine's unctuous fruit and overall richness. The 2017 packs a serious punch, that is for sure. Although not the last word in finesse, Certan de May offers plenty of richness and body. It is one of the bigger Pomerols of the year. I would give the 2017 a few years in bottle to allow the tannins to soften.
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Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Neal Martin
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The 2017 Certan de May is a blend of 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, the wine charges out of the gate with bold expressions of preserved plums, blueberry compote and redcurrant jelly plus nuances of pencil shavings, forest floor and truffles. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers elegantly played black fruits and earthy accents with a lovely frame of fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with a quiet intensity.
The 2017 Certan de May is a Pomerol that I am fond of, yet recent vintages have left me perplexed. This vintage does nothing to reduce the number of lines across my furrowed brow. The aromatics never click out of second gear, plenty of earthy, decayed leaf aromas but insufficient fruit to really make the nose gel together. The palate offers dark berry fruit, black truffle and black pepper notes with a fine line of acidity. But I am seeking more depth on the finish that seems to run out of ideas and does not exactly leave you seeking another sip as soon as possible. Not a bad wine, but this terroir has so much potential that I know it can make a far better Pomerol than this.
The 2017 Chateau Certan De May comes from a 13.5-acre vineyard of deep clay and gravelly soils and is 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep ruby/purple-colored, with lots of Cabernet Franc character in its red, black, and blue fruits as well as notes of sappy flowers and earth, it's medium-bodied, has present tannins, a solid spine of acidity, and a great finish. It's nicely balanced, well-made, and is going to benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age and keep for over a decade.