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Certan de May 1992 75cl

AOC | Pomerol | Bordeaux | France
CHF 97.30
Critics scores
87 By Robert Parker
First the good news. Certan de May's 1992 is obviously a powerful, concentrated wine, with the intensely herbaceous side of Certan de May fortunately subdued. The result is a wine with a forcefully rich, blackcurrant nose combined with scents of smoky new oak, tobacco, and herbs, medium to full body, a soft, silky texture, excellent concentration, low acidity, and soft tannin. It should be drinkable when released and age well for 10-12 years. The bad news is that some bottles reveal a damp, musty, cardboard character in the bouquet but not in the flavors. If it is not a cork problem, might this musty element relate to the use of steam in coopering or cleaning the barrels, with the steam's moisture trapped in the wood's interior, giving off unclean aromas of wood? I would welcome readers' thoughts on this wine.
Producer
Château Certan de May
Located just next door to the well-known Vieux Château Certan, Certan de May is fully known as Certan de May de Certan. It was once part of its more famous neighbor, but was then separated in 1858. The May family was a noble clan of Scottish origins that had settled in the area centuries before. When the family died out in 1925, the property was bought by André Badar, the father of its current owner. The estate is on the smaller side, even for Pomerol, with only 5 hectares that are planted to Merlot (70%), Cabernet Franc (25%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%). Though the Barrau-Badard family has owned the château since the depression of 1929, it is actually managed by the JP Moueix company, who oversee grape growing, winemaking and distribution. Due to its lesser known reputation, it can be good value.