Chateau Certan de May 2020

- 96 Punkte Terre de Vins, Mathieu Doumenge: "Au gré d’une sélection rigoureuse, Certan de May a produit un 2020 de belle facture, à bien des égards un cran au-dessus du 2019. Netteté du fruit, noir et juteux, gainé de notes florales. Parfum pommadé et délicatement épicé. Bouche veloutée, sapide, suave, presque lactée, signée par un joli grain de tanins, un élevage fondu et une finale finement dessinée, aromatique et vivace."

- 95 Punkte DECANTER, Jane Anson: "This is pretty sombre, with a more Left Bank feel than many, really get the savoury and pared back dark berry feel of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, ensuring that the pressure from the tannins is to the fore. As it relaxes in the glass, a grilled coffee bean and liquorice note comes out. This is a lovely and powerful wine that takes its foot off the pedal at the right moment. Has personality and sets itself apart. Really enjoyable, in the Gazin-style in that this is subtly powerful rather than over-exuberant. New cellars at Certan de May, harvest of Merlot September 11 to 16, and the two Cabernets September 28 and 29. Drinking Window 2026 – 2042"

- 94 Punkte DECANTER, Georgina Hindle: “Ripe fruit aromas alongside vanilla and cinnamon, dark and brooding with soft floral flecks. A little more serious than I was expecting, this is taught and focused, direct, streamlined - it feels little tight and withholding some of its joy right now. Clearly powerful and potent, a core of ripe fruit but the salinity is showing through with wet stone, graphite, pencil lead touches alongside cool minty blueberries. Feels as If it hasn't quite hit its stride, but it's sleek with a lovely tannic impression. A bit of heat comes across in fig elements, with some cedar and cinnamon and liquorice spicing, but it works well with the vintage, taking what was given and presenting a fuller, bolder style. Will take time to come around but will be lovely when it does. They haven't tried too hard here and I love the focus and purity you get on the mid-palate.”

- 94-96 Punkte WINE ENTHUSIAST, Roger Voss: "Big, rich tannins give this wine great structure with dense concentration as well as rich, juicy blackberry fruits. The wine brings out the best of the vintage, ripe and fresh at the same time."

- WINESPECTATOR, James Molesworth: “This has some lovely fruit -- and with good definition, too (not easy in this vintage) -- with plum, cassis and blackberry notes that sail through prettily, laced with black tea, incense and anise. Ends with a subtle smoldering alder accent. A lovely wine that avoids the vintage's pratfalls. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2025 through 2036. 1,550 cases made.”

- 19 Punkte WEINWISSER: "Tiefgründiges Purpur mit schwarzer Mitte und zartem lila Rand. Konzentriertes, sehr komplexes Bouquet mit Wildkirsche, Pflaumenmus und Lakritze, dahinter Johannisbeerdrops und Fliedernoten. Am satten Gaumen mit cremiger Textur, feinkörniges Extrakt, perfekt balancierte Rasse, sehr strukturiert mit beeindruckender Tiefe und sehr muskulösem Körper. Im gebündelten langanhaltenden Finale ein Feuerwerk mit schwarzen Beeren, dunkle Mineralik und edle Cassiswürze. Vervollständigt die Trilogie!"

- Robert Parkers WINE ADVOCATE, Lisa Perrotti-Brown: "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 Certan de May gives up compelling notes of ripe, juicy black plums, fresh blackberries and black cherry compote, plus suggestions of lavender, wild sage and clove oil. The medium to full-bodied palate is softly textured with bags of freshness framing the generous black fruits, finishing on a savory note."

- VINOUS, Antonio Galloni: "The 2020 Certan de May has come together nicely. It remains a powerful, perhaps even monolithic, Pomerol, and yet it offers very good balance. A blast of black cherry, gravel, dried herbs, licorice and incense announces this decidedly Pomerol. There’s certainly plenty of depth and big tannins to match. The substantial finish is impressive. I would give this a few years in bottle to see what happens. The 2020 is a bruiser, that much is pretty evident."

- FALSTAFF, Peter Moser: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Ockerrandaufhellung. Rote Kirschen, ein Hauch von frischen Pflaumen, floraler Touch nach Hibiskus, Orangenzesten sind unterlegt, helle Schokolade klingt an. Saftig, reife Herzkirschen, gute Frische, intgerierte reife Tannine, salzig-mineralisch unterlegter Abgang, bereits harmonisch, zarte Röstaromen im Nachhall, zeigt gute Länge."

- 17,5 Punkte JANCIS ROBINSON, James Lawther: "65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Cask sample. 
Deep and reserved at present but a dark-fruit nuance and the aromatic complexity is there. Vibrant palate, fine and persistent, the tannins building in a linear way. Lovely balance and freshness. Real wine with ageing potential. Could be the best yet."

- JEB DUNNUCK: "A classic, complex, old-school beauty that will be loved by the traditionalists out there, the 2020 Château Certan De May offers up a flowery, savory bouquet of red and black fruits, saddle leather, savory herbs, and incense. With medium-bodied richness, a good core of sweet fruit, fine tannins, and a great finish, give bottles just a few years and enjoy over the coming 10-15.“

- 95-96 Punkte JAMES SUCKLING: "This is very refined with polished, chewy tannins and black olives. Medium-to full-bodied, the tannins are chiseled and energetic. 65% merlot, 25% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon."

- 19 Punkte WEINWISSER: "Komplexes Bouquet mit Wildkirsche, Pflaumenmus und Lakritze,  dahinter Johannisbeerdrops und Fliedernoten. Am Gaumen mit cremiger Textur, feinkörnigem Extrakt, perfekt balancierter Rasse, sehr strukturiert mit beeindruckender Tiefe und sehr muskulösem Körper. Im langeny Finale ein Feuerwerk mit schwarzen Beeren, dunkle Mineralik und edle Cassiswürze. Vervollständigt die Trilogie!"

- 4* VINARIA: "Anfangs leicht reduktiv, Popcorn, dahinter konzentrierte und voll ausgereifte rote Waldbeerenfrucht, nussig, pfeffrig, schöne Fülle, Tabak, geröstete Noten; saftig, kernig, leicht toastig, sehr eleganter Fruchtschliff aus reifen roten Beeren, vor allem Erdbeeren, seidiges Tannin, viel Schliff, recht lang."

- 17,5 Punkte VINUM: „Zurückhaltend, aber viel versprechend in der Nase, präzise Ausbaunoten; eleganter Auftakt, Dichte, Schliff und Rasse, erstklassiges Tannin, Mineralität und Länge; viel Terroir in diesem ausgezeichnet gemachten Wein. Trinkfenster 2029-2035“

- 19 Punkte Rene Gabriels BORDEAUX TOTAL, Andre Kunz: „(65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon) Tiefes, dichtes, komplexes, elegantes, frisches Bouquet, Erdbeeren, Maulbeeren, dunkle Pralinen, Honigwaben, Gewürznelken, Nougat, Feuerstein. Dichtverwobener, kräftiger, samtener vielschichtiger Gaumen mit viel feinem Tannin, fein konzentrierter, dichter, samtener Struktur, vielfältiger, frischer Aromatik, sehr langer, kräftiger, explodierender Abgang mit sehr vielen Rückaromen. Kann noch zulegen. 2028 – 2055“