Chateau Certan de May 2016

JAMES SUCKLING: "A deeply intense and plush Pomerol with immaculately ripe fruit and tannins. So well executed with aromas of truffle, dark stones, coal smoke and intense dark plums and cocoa powder. The palate has an immaculate texture with very bright, velvety tannins, carrying rich dark plums. Plum pudding and Christmas cake to close. Try from 2025."

DECANTER: "Grilled rosemary, blackberry, and cassis flesh, this is full of character and just clings on. A ton of complexity at work here, subtle and juicy and really one to own. A little more open at this stage than some of the other 2016s in this extremely impressive line up but full of slate and chocolate pleasure. Drinking Window 2023 - 2040"

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "A blend of 65% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Franc and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, the medium garnet-purple colored 2016 Certan de May offers up notes of wild blueberries, black cherries and raspberry leaves with hints of black tea, roses and tar. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers a wonderful quiet intensity of blue, red and black fruits plus a fine-grained backbone and superb freshness, delivery and very long, mineral-tinged finish."

WEINWISSER: "65 % Merlot, 31 % Cabernet Franc, 4 % Cabernet Sauvignon. Sattes Granat mit aufhellendem Rand. Duftig- würzige Frucht mit Preiselbeeren und Zedernduft, dahinter rote Pflaumen, Fenchelsamen und viel Mineralik. Kraftvoller Gaumen mit engmaschigem Körper, viel Struktur und Klasse. Im Rückaroma mit roter Johannisbeere, das sehr lange im Mund haften bleibt – ein Jahr wie geschaffen für diesen Klassiker! Der wird noch zulegen!"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "If you're looking for truffle and cherry notes, you came to right place. Add in soft, silky textures, polished tannins and a blast of ripe, sweet cherries with licorice and lift in the finish and you get the picture. This is substantially better in bottle than from barrel."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Poised and elegant, this wine comes from a 13.5-acre estate within stone-throwing distance of Pétrus. Its richness is sublimated by pure red-berry fruits and acidity to give a balanced wine with stylish tannins. Drink from 2024."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, zart floral, reifes schwarzes Waldbeerkonfit, süße Gewürze, ein Hauch von Edelholz, noch etwas verschlossen. Saftig, rotbeerig, lebendige Struktur, präsente Tannine, im Moment dominiert nach etwas das Holz den Abgang, wirkt leicht austrocknend im Nachhall."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2016 Château Certain de May is a structured, firm, backward effort, yielding some herbal, cassis, and smoky, earthy aromas, medium body, good, not great concentration, and present tannins that emerge on the mid-palate and finish. Tight and backward, it’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and should keep for 15+ years."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Very inviting, with a creamy feel to the mix of damson plum, raspberry and black cherry preserve flavors backed by light anise and floral notes. Delivers a dusting of wood spice and floral hints through the finish. Drink now through 2031."