This wine is developing well, bringing together tannins and concentrated black fruits. The dominant Merlot gives a solidly jammy character to the bold tannins. It is maturing into a serious wine that will be ready from 2024.

The 2017 Certan de May is a blend of 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, the wine charges out of the gate with bold expressions of preserved plums, blueberry compote and redcurrant jelly plus nuances of pencil shavings, forest floor and truffles. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers elegantly played black fruits and earthy accents with a lovely frame of fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with a quiet intensity.

Suave, with a silky frame supporting alluring damson plum, black cherry and raspberry sauce flavors, backed by red licorice and raspberry ganache notes. The polished finish displays energy and length. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2022 through 2038. 1,700 cases made.

The 2017 Certan de May is a powerful, dense wine. Graphite, smoke, grilled herbs and dark red and purplish fruit confer a real sense of gravitas that also comes through in the wine's unctuous fruit and overall richness. The 2017 packs a serious punch, that is for sure. Although not the last word in finesse, Certan de May offers plenty of richness and body. It is one of the bigger Pomerols of the year. I would give the 2017 a few years in bottle to allow the tannins to soften.

The 2017 Chateau Certan De May comes from a 13.5-acre vineyard of deep clay and gravelly soils and is 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep ruby/purple-colored, with lots of Cabernet Franc character in its red, black, and blue fruits as well as notes of sappy flowers and earth, it's medium-bodied, has present tannins, a solid spine of acidity, and a great finish. It's nicely balanced, well-made, and is going to benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age and keep for over a decade.