2021 Château Certan de May

The 2021 Certan de May was picked from September 27 to October 11. There is a touch of herbaceousness on the nose here, a leitmotif of recent vintages that has left me perplexed in warmer growing seasons, though it’s more understandable in this vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and modest depth; no greenness here, but there is a welcome touch of pepper toward the finish. This is an improvement for a Pomerol that can hit the ball out of the park if so inclined.

- Neal Martin (2022)

The 2021 Certan de May shows promise, offering up aromas of sweet cherries and berries mingled with hints of violets, rose petals and nicely integrated new oak. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and fleshy, with lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins, I suspect it will flesh out with further élevage to become even more impressive. The blend incorporates fully 37% Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, a figure that reflects the vintage (which favored these varieties) as well as a tendency to replant with Cabernet rather than Merlot over the last decade.

- William Kelley (2022)