Chateau Certan de May 2023

JAMES SUCKLING: "A juicy and fresh red with good depth of fruit, showing pretty plum and blackberry, as well as bark and mushroom. It’s medium- to full-bodied with chewy tannins that are already integrated and polished. 65% merlot, 25% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon."

WEINWISSER: "Intensives blaubeeriges Bouquet, Heidelbeerdrops, Veilchenduft und Heidekraut, dahinter Lavendel und Johannisbeernektar. Am kompakten Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, mineralischem Kern, engmaschigem Tanninkorsett und sehnigem Körper. Im konzentrierten langen Finale schwarze kleine Beeren, Lakritze und mehlige Adstringenz."

VINUM: "Zurückhaltend, mit reifer Pflaumenfrucht, eingemachten Kirschen, florale Noten; straffer Gaumen, strukturiert, markante, leicht pudrige Gerbstoffe, saftige Säure, zeigt Charakter, hat Rasse, hallt lange nach."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Intensive schwarze Beerenfrucht, feine Kräuterwürze, ein Hauch von Preiselbeeren, ein Hauch von Edelholz. Saftig, mittlere Komplexität, rotbeerige Nuancen, feine Tannine, mineralisch, zitronig-salzig im Abgang."

DECANTER: "Fragrant and expressive, lots of perfumed elements. Smooth and agile, there’s a nice energy and focus to this with pure blackcurrant and cherry fruit, high acidity, and a real sense of life. Lots of upfront, buzzy fruit but it's also a touch lean and straight offering some austerity right now. Nicely focussed though with a cool lift on the finish."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Black raspberries, truffle, flowers, plums, and chocolate show easily in the nose. The wine is elegant, soft, refined, and silky on the palate, finishing with dark chocolate, ripe, black cherries, plums, and a touch of orange rind on the backend. The wine blends 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2027-2043."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Deep ruby/purple-hued, the 2023 Château Certan De May (65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon) has a darker, more floral, herbal character (no doubt due to the high Cabernet content) as well as beautiful aromatics of cassis, spring flowers, graphite, and chalky minerality. It's medium-bodied, has nicely integrated oak, the pure, juicy, elegant style of the vintage, and a great finish. A more inward, focused, serious 2023, I’s going to benefit from a touch of bottle age, although, like just about all the 2023s, it will still offer plenty of pleasure in its youth."