Chateau Certan de May 2020

JAMES SUCKLING: "Lots of violets and flowers with hints of smoke and spice. Then dried flowers. Full and broad with tannins that flow across the palate. Chiselled. The real deal here for Pomerol. 65% merlot, 25% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon. Give this four to five years."

WEINWISSER: "Ungeheuer vielschichtiges Bouquet, Wildkirsche, Lakritze und rote Pflaume, dahinter Holundergelee und zarte Fliedernote. Am verführerischen Gaumen seidige Textur, feinkörniges Extrakt gepaart mit edler Salznote, balancierte Rasse und engmaschiger Körper. Im gebündelten langanhaltenden Finale mit schwarzbeerigen Konturen, dunkler Mineralik und edler Adstringenz. Ganz großes Pomerol-Kino! Hat nicht jeder auf dem Schirm."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "The first thing you notice is the pronounced note of cinnamon followed by toast, plums, wet earth, violets and dark cocoa. Deeply colored, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, silky, fresh, lifted and polished. The spicy finish, with its refined cherries and plums is long, vibrant and sensuous. This will age and evolve for at least 2 decades or more with little effort."

DECANTER: "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."

FALSTAFF: "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."

WINE SPECTATOR: "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, 75 cases imported."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Offering up aromas of sweet berries and plums mingled with notions of aniseed, licorice and mint, the 2020 Certan de May is medium to full-bodied, broad and layered, with a rich and enveloping core of ripe, somewhat baked fruit. This is a solid effort, but it can't quite match the 2019."

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."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "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."