2014 Certan De May
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Tasting notes
The 2014 Certan de May has a dusky, animally nose with scents of dried blood and hung game developing with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, grainy tannin, notes of pencil lead infusing the black fruit with just a touch of bitterness on the finish. It feels a little gawky at the moment although I think it might come together. Fingers crossed though I am not optimistic. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
Critic scores
Average Score
Wine Spectator
Tim Atkin MW
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind. Rich, sweet, opulent but not one of the freshest. Slightly hot finish. Second bottle was more appealing. Clean. But not a standout. (JR)
I was not totally convinced by the 2014 Certan de May when I tasted it from barrel and now in bottle, I am not inclined to alter that view. It has a rather banal bouquet, nothing criminally wrong, just rather predictable and missing the joie-de-vivre or the complexity that I have found in other vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin, quite grainy in texture with simple black dusty fruit, yet it tapers away far too quickly on the finish. I was expecting more, but it just does not deliver. Tasted twice with consistent notes.
The 2014 Certan de May offers terrific depth and intensity, although it is very much closed in on itself. Dark cherry, tobacco, cedar, mint, licorice and dried flowers gain volume over time. Deceptively medium in body, the 2014 has plenty of underlying tannin as well as enough acidity to drink well for a number of years.