Learn everything about Vieux Chateau Certan Pomerol with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairing tips. Learn all the best vintages, the history of the property, and information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles
Vieux Chateau Certan History, Overview
Vieux Chateau Certan is one of the oldest properties in Pomerol. The estate’s history dates back to the mid-1700s when it was founded by Jean Demay de Certan.
The original chateau was constructed closer to 1770. The Demay’s were well known for their work in the Bordeaux wine trade. They were successful negociants and wine merchants. The wines of what we know today as Vieux Chateau Certan were originally sold under the name of Sertan.
The vineyards of Vieux Chateau Certan were much larger in their formative years. The land was divided after the French Revolution and again through sales transactions giving birth to Certan de May and various other estates that continue using the name Certan in their title.
In its formative years, the wine of Vieux Chateau Certan was considered to be among the top, if not the best wine of Pomerol. The more things change, the more they stay the same as Vieux Chateau Certan is once again considered one of the best wines of Pomerol.
In 1924, everything changed for the Right Bank estate when it was sold to the popular Belgian Bordeaux wine merchant, Georges Thienpont. Many successful wine merchants and negociants have owned various chateaux at one time or another. In fact, Georges Thienpont was already a successful landowner in St. Emilion.
He was also the owner of Chateau Troplong Mondot. But Vieux Chateau Certan was a special case, as the relationship to Georges Thienpont was important for the wine’s success and image in the marketplace. Thienpont wanted to know which of his clients were buying Vieux Chateau Certan. But he needed to be discreet about it.
That gave him the idea of placing the now-famous pink capsule on the bottles of Vieux Chateau Certan. The capsule stood out in collectors cellars making it easy for Thienpont to see if his clients were purchasing his wine without having to ask them. Plus, pink was the color of the moment for Parisian designers, making the look of the bottle quite chic.
That was a very savvy marketing move. However, his decision to sell most of the wine from Vieux Chateau Certan through his own Belgian negociant company did not allow Vieux Chateau Certan the international exposure it required or deserved, as the wine was not available from most of the negociant trade.
That did not change for decades. It was not until some point in the 1980s that Vieux Chateau Certan was available as a future, selling en primeur on the Place de Bordeaux with the other top wines.
While the decade of the 1920s produced some strong wines for Vieux Chateau Certan, the 1930s were not so kind. Due to the blend of the depression coupled with poor weather, Vieux Chateau Certan did not even produce wine in 1931, 1932, and 1933. Those difficult years forced him to sell Chateau Troplong Mondot.
The following decade was much kinder as the wines produced by Vieux Chateau Certan in 1945, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1953 were all legendary vintages! During the 1950’s, Vieux Chateau Certan began chateau bottling their entire production.
Following the death of Georges Thienpont in 1962, the estate was managed by other members of the family until the taciturn, thoughtful, Alexandre Thienpont took control of Vieux Chateau Certan in time for the 1986 vintage.
On an interesting footnote, labels of Vieux Chateau Certan until the 1975 vintage listed the chateau as a Grand Cru. Starting with the 1976 vintage, the labels changed, stating the wine was a Grand Vin.
Vieux Chateau Certan The Modern Era
Since Alexandre Thienpont began managing Vieux Chateau Certan, he renovated the wine-making facilities in 1988 and again modernized the traditional Pomerol estate in 2003. It was his decision to create a second wine, La Gravette de Certan. He began green harvesting, picking riper fruit, and reducing yields as a regular part of their vineyard management techniques.
All his efforts proved to be correct as the wines of Vieux Chateau Certan have never been better! The reputation of Vieux Chateau Certan today places it among the very, best wines in the Pomerol appellation.
Guillaume Thienpont is clearly following in the footsteps of his father. He is helping to run the estate today. In time, it is expected that Guillaume Thienpont will eventually take over managing Vieux Chateau Certan entirely.
Vieux Chateau Certan sits on the top of the Pomerol plateau. It’s located directly across the street from Certan de May and not far from Petrus, Lafleur or Le Pin. Le Pin is owned by a different member of the Thienpont family. Alexandre Thienpont runs Vieux Chateau Certan and manages the vineyards of Le Pin for his cousin Jacques Thienpont.
The Character and Style of Vieux Chateau Certan
Vieux Chateau Certan is an elegant Pomerol. It’s full-bodied, rich, and offers ripe blackberry, plum, floral, chocolate, and spice aromas. The texture can be pure silk and velvet.
The wine is effortless to drink, yet it’s complex and ages well. The style of Vieux Chateau Certan varies depending on the vintage. Some years are better for Cabernet Franc which provides a more structured style of wine. Other vintages allow the Merlot to develop more ripeness and opulence along with a lush quality.
For an idea on which Vieux Chateau Certan vintages were better for Merlot, Cabernet Franc or both:
2016 is a Merlot vintage, with 85% Merlot. 2015 is a Cabernet Franc year, as it is 19% of the blend. 2014 is a Cabernet Franc vintage with 19% of the varietal in the blend. 2012 is a Merlot vintage. 2011 is a Cabernet Franc vintage with 29% included in the assemblage. 2010 is a Merlot vintage.
2009 is a Merlot year, 2008 Cabernet Franc, 2007 Merlot, 2006 Cabernet Franc, 2005 Merlot, 2004 Cabernet Franc, 2003 Cabernet Franc (The vintage is considered an off vintage by Thienpont, however, it has the highest concentration of Cabernet Franc ever used in the blend), 2002 Merlot, 2001 Merlot, 2000 Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, 1999 Merlot, 1998 Merlot, (No Cabernet Franc made the blend, 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon), 1997 Merlot, 1996 Cabernet Franc and 1995 favored Merlot.
The record for Cabernet Franc in Vieux Chateau Certan belongs to 2003, which has an astounding 80%, Cabernet Franc. This is followed by 1993, which included 50% Cabernet Franc in the blend. Cabernet Franc gives the wine of Vieux Chateau Certan aromatic complexity and length. According to the owner Alexandre Thienpont, it helps build a more complex wine.
Previously, I thought the best vintages of Vieux Chateau Certan, which only happen on rare occasions produce equally strong Merlot and Cabernet Franc. I changed my mind after tasting the amazing 2009, which is a year that favored Merlot. In that year, the blend is 84% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Clearly, this is one of the top wines of the entire 2009 Bordeaux vintage! In fact, 2009 Vieux Chateau Certan is one of the best wines I’ve ever tasted from the estate. As hard as it is to believe, 2010 could even be better. 2010 Vieux Chateau Certan could be even better and that’s a vintage dominated by Merlot.
Those two vintages of Vieux Chateau Certan will be fun to compare over the next several decades. My bet is, 2009 and 2010 Vieux Chateau Certan will be seen as legendary Pomerol wines by the time they hit maturity. While they are expensive, these wines are worth the money as they offer unparalleled, decadent, tasting experiences.
The best vintages of Vieux Chateau Certan are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2001, 2000, 1998, 1990, 1982, 1953, 1950, 1948, 1947, 1945, 1929 and 1928.
Old vintages are difficult to find, and they’re often counterfeited, but if you can find a bottle and have the disposable income, it can be an extraordinary, wine-tasting experience! From the wealth of extraordinary more recent vintages, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020 are mind-blowing wines! As you can see, perhaps the best wines in the history of Vieux Chateau Certan are being made today.
Vieux Chateau Certan Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking
The 14 hectare vineyard of Vieux Chateau Certan is planted to 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. This shows a slight increase in the Cabernet Franc and decreases in the Merlot, planted here. On average, their average 50 years of age.
However, there is one very old plot of Merlot that was planted all the way back in 1932, making it one of the oldest parcels in the Pomerol appellation. They also have a section of old vines planted in 1948.
The Vieux Chateau Certan vineyard is one of the largest vineyards in the Right Bank that are planted in one single block of vines. Most of the vineyard surrounds the chateau, although, they also have vines placed close to Le Pin. Most of the time, you find about 13.3 hectares in production. The vineyard is located in the center of Pomerol, on the plateau.
When you arrive at the junction where the estate rests, you are truly at the cross streets that could easily be renamed “The center of the heart and soul of Pomerol”.
Directly across the street is Chateau Certan de May and just down the road, you’ll find Petrus. Chateau Lafleur is only a stone’s throw from there as well and lEvangile is quite close too as is La Conseillante. Vieux Chateau Certan has a terroir of clay, gravel and sandy soils. But as you will see, things are more complex than that.
The Vieux Chateau Certan vineyard consists of 2 main blocks. At the peak of their elevation, they are at 37.5 meters. The peak is close to the center of the top of the Pomerol plateau, which is where the vines of Petrus abut those of Vieux Chateau Certan. Here is where you find a lot of blue clay.
70% of their vines are in the gravel and clay soils, while 30% of their vines are in the deeper clay terroir. Those 2 main blocks are into 23 separate parcels.
You can further divide the vineyard of Vieux Chateau Certan into 3 main soil types: deep clay, clay, and gravel. Generally speaking, the Merlot is planted in the deep clay, Cabernet Franc grows in the clay and gravel soil and the Cabernet Sauvignon is placed in the gravel soils.
Underneath the topsoil, you find clay with iron deposits. It is the blending of those 3 soil types and the grape varieties that produce the magic of Vieux Chateau Certan.
Alexandre Thienpont is responsible for changing the makeup of the vineyards as well. He removed all the Malbec that was previously planted and reduced the amount of Cabernet Sauvignon in the vineyards while adding more Merlot and Cabernet Franc after 1995.
Alexandre Thienpont practices 100% sustainable vineyard management farming techniques at Vieux Chateau Certan. While the estate is clearly a traditional winery, they embrace modern technology. For example, utilizing infrared cameras that are placed on tractors that allow for precise picking of single rows and even individual vines. That is a lot of work when you consider they have about 70,000 vines!
Vinification of Vieux Chateau Certan takes place in 21, traditional, temperature-controlled, large, oak, and stainless-steel vats. The vats are sorted into 8 oak tanks and 13 stainless steel vats. The oak tanks are old, they were purchased in 1972. Each of the varieties is vinified separately in different fermentation vessels before blending. The Merlot is vinified on average at 32 degrees Celsius.
The vats range in size from 40 hectoliters, 50 hectoliters, 60 hectoliters, 77 hectoliters, and all the way up to 125 hectoliters.
The range of vat sizes allows for vinification on a parcel-by-parcel basis, as well as for each grape variety to be vinified according to its needs. The grapes are also vinified according to their vine age. So, at Vieux Chateau Certan, the older vines are vinified wood tanks, while the remainder of the fruit is vinified in stainless steel tanks.
The Merlot undergoes malolactic fermentation in the barrel. A different course is taken for the Cabernet Franc at Vieux Chateau Certan. The Cabernet Franc is vinified at 30 degrees Celsius. The Cabernet Franc undergoes malolactic fermentation in vats. On average, the wine of Vieux Chateau Certan is aged in 50%, new, French oak barrels for about 20 months, depending on the character and quality of the vintage.
The yearly production ranges from 4,000 to 5,000 cases of Vieux Chateau Certan per vintage. There is a second wine, La Gravette de Certan, which made its debut in 1986. La Gravette de Certan takes its name from a parcel of vines purchased by the Thienpont family in 1946.
When to Drink Vieux Chateau Certan, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Chateau Vieux Chateau Certan is much better with at least 12-15 years of aging in good vintages. Young vintages can be decanted for 2-3 hours or more.
This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Vieux Chateau Certan offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 15-35 years of age after the vintage.
Serving Vieux Chateau Certan with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips
Vieux Chateau Certan is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.
Vieux Chateau Certan is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Vieux Chateau Certan is also good when matched with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, pasta, and a wide variety of hard and soft cheeses.
Vieux Château Certan Wine Tasting Notes
51 Vintages 785,085 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating
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2023
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Black cherries, flowers, chocolate, truffles, blackberries and a touch of cinnamon produce the aromatic profile. Elegance and power do not always go together. But with 2023 VCC, this is exactly what you find. There is intensity, richness, velvety-tannins, chalky accents, and layers of chocolate-infused, dark pit fruits, with wet earth, and spice. The wine is rich, full, and deep, with uplifting acidities providing energy to the long, sensuous finish. The temperate conditions of the growing season, without extreme variances is what allowed the vintage to develop its characteristics. In the cellars, the extractions were slow, soft, and easy. Pump overs were reduced by 30% this year as well. The wine blends 82% Merlot, and 18% Cabernet Franc. 14% ABV, 3.74 pH. The harvest took place September 18 - September 29. Drink from 2029-2060. 97-99 Pts. 4,066 Views Tasted May 4, 2024 |
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2022
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Dark in color, and equally dark in fruit, you already find truffles, violets, roses, lilacs, black plums cherries. The palate is sensuous, supple, and silky, with a vibrancy to the fruits, a mild of touch of salt, and a refreshing hint of mint that shines at the back end of the finish. Refined, and elegant, this is going to age and evolve for decades. The wine blends 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.4% ABV, 3.78 pH. The harvest took place September 6 - September 21. Yields were 35 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2027-2060. 97-99 Pts. 10,278 Views Tasted May 8, 2023 |
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2021
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
In contention for wine of the vintage, and even better in the bottle than it was in the barrel, this gem pops with its display of flowers, spices, truffles, tobacco leaves, cherries, plums, and chocolate. The palate is influenced by its wealth of Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. This is a wine of finesse, freshness, refinement, elegance, and vibrancy, leaving you with lift, and energetic, red fruits with tension, precision, complexity, and length that builds during the finish. The wine blends 77% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2026-2055. 2,258 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2024Dark ruby in color, the perfume kicks off with lilacs, violets, graphite, nutmeg, spice, plums and black cherry nuances. On the palate, the wine is fresh, vibrant, crisp, chewy and long. The salty touch of minerality in the endnote adds to all the sweet, dark red pit fruits. Refined, elegant and classic, (but in a good way) there is length, purity, tension and energy in the finish, with just a hint of spice too. The wine blends 77% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.2% ABV. The harvest took place September 24-September - October 6. Yields were 38 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2026-2049. 94-96 8,720 Views Tasted May 20, 2022 |
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2021
Vieux Château Certan La Gravette de Certan (Pomerol)
Flowers, cherries, red plums, and black raspberries, with a touch of green herbs are a pleasure in the nose. The wine is forward, fresh, soft, elegant, and combines its red berries with herbs, and a light touch of green olives in the finish. Drink from 2024-2035. 1,550 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2024 |
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2020
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
An extraordinary effort, the wine is almost opaque in color. The haunting perfume offers a bouquet of flowers, black, red and blue fruits, chocolate, spice, espresso and hints of truffles on the nose. Incredibly concentrated, but equally light on its feet, the wine is effortless to taste. With polished, velvet textures and fruits that express purity coupled with spice, chocolate, wet earth and sensuality, the finish crosses the 60 second mark and keeps on going! This is a youthful look at one of the future legendary vintages for Vieux Chateau Certan. If this is your thing, and if you have the extra income, buy it now as prices will only rise from here. Drink from 2027-2065. 8,734 Views Tasted Mar 21, 2023Inky dark in color, it takes no time to discover the truffle, violets, black plum liqueur, Valrhona chocolate, spice, espresso bean, black raspberry and hints of blue fruit on the nose. Full-bodied, and incredibly concentrated, the wine feels like polished velvet as it caresses your palate. Dense, rich and powerful, yet weightless, balanced and fresh, the finish crosses the 60 second mark and keeps on going! The level of purity, concentration and depth of flavor here is matched by its sensuality. If Caligula were serving wine, this would be his choice. This is better than the 2009, 2016 and probably 2018. This will be one of the legendary vintages for Vieux Chateau Certan. It is a serious contender for wine of the vintage! The wine blends 85% Merlot with 15% Cabernet Franc, 14.5% ABV. The harvest took place September 14-September 24 for the Merlot. Cabernet Franc was picked September 28-September 30. Yields were low at only 30 hectoliters per hectare. 98-100 Pts 10,656 Views Tasted May 20, 2021 |
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2020
La Gravette de Certan (Pomerol)
Medium-bodied, fresh, vibrant and silky, the wine offers an array of sweet, silky, plums and cherries with a touch of cocoa and bright red pit fruits to come in at the end. You can enjoy this with pleasure while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. Even better than the 2018, this is a superb vintage of La Gravette de Certan. Drink from 2023-2035. 3,430 Views Tasted Mar 21, 2023 |
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2019
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
There is no hotter wine these days in Pomerol than Vieux Chateau Certan. Since 2009, vintage after vintage has been extraordinary and 2019 continues its hot streak! The first thing you notice is the perfume, which is just like walking into a flower store with rows of roses, violets, and lilies along with forest greenery, spice box, plum liqueur, black cherry, truffle, and dark chocolate scents come alive. But it is on the palate that leaves you wanting more, due to non-stop waves of perfectly ripe, black cherries, plums, blackberries, and blue fruit which feel like each berry was hand-polished with a velvet cloth. The seamless finish delivers cashmere textures for more than 60 seconds! You can drink this relatively young for its hedonistic thrill-ride, or age it for additional complexities. Either way, this is a future legend! Drink from 2026-2060. 8,428 Views Tasted Mar 29, 2022Flowers, black raspberry, plum liqueur, truffle, wet earth, forest floor and cherry blossoms are in the nose. Rich, intense, full-bodied, deep and velvety, the wine is loaded with dark chocolate, black cherries and the essence of dark plums. The decadent finish sticks with you for close to 60 seconds, which is a good thing, because the wine is so texturally sensual, you do not want it to end. Blending 78% Merlot with 15% Cabernet Franc and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine reached 14.5% ABV with a pH of 3.75. Picking took place September 23 -September 27 for the old vine Merlot and October 2-October 3 for the Cabernet. The wine is aging in about 67% new, French oak barrels. 98-100 Pts 17,164 Views Tasted Jun 8, 2020 |
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2018
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
There is no hotter wine in Pomerol these days than Vieux Chateau Certan.2018 joins 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016 and 2019 in the pantheon of incredible vintages for VCC! The opaque colored wine explodes with dark red, black and blue fruits, dark cocoa, herbs, flowers, spice, wet earth and licorice in the nose. If that didn\'t hook you, the incredible level of density, with its palate coating richness and seamless over 60 second finish with all its velvet and silk textured fruits with their remarkable purity will. This is a future legend of Bordeaux. If decadent drinking is your thing, this belongs in your cellar. The wine blends 70% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Franc. 10,399 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2021With a dark hue, the initial scent you'll notice is the robust floral crux before discovering the truffle, spice, cocoa, black plum, red fruit and licorice. Elegant, polished, silky, refined with a gorgeous sense of purity in the fruit, the wine has density but it also dances on tiptoe. The 2018 is a striking expression of Pomerol with a mix of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. The wine reached 14.4% ABV with a pH of 3.78. Picking took place September 19 to October 10 and 65% of the harvest was used to produce the Grand Vin. 98-100 Pts 9,891 Views Tasted Apr 19, 2019 |
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2018
La Gravette de Certan (Pomerol)
It is hard to believe this is only a second wine, with all that is going on here. Soft, silky, polished, elegant and loaded with richly textured, sweet, ripe, black plums, cherries and chocolate, the opulent finish is sublime. Drink this while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. This is the best vintage of La Gravette de Certan I have ever tasted. 2,786 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2021 |
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2017
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Deep in color, the wine pops with the perfume of cocoa, flowers, black plums, truffle and licorice. From there you\'ll find depth and concentration of flavor. The fruit is dark, polished, sensuous, velvety and long. There is vibrancy, florality, old vine intensity and chocolate coated cherries in the finish -- a denouement that goes on for 50 seconds or more. Blending 81% Merlot with 14% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine reached 14.2% ABV with a pH of 3.75. Picking took place September 12, September 17, September 18 and October 2. It is interesting to note the picking dates and blends are quite similar to 2016. Sixty-seven percent of the harvest was included in the Grand Vin, which is much higher than usual. 12,736 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2018 |
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2016
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Like walking into a plum orchard where you also find espresso, almonds, fresh flowers, red and black plums and dark cocoa. The fragrance starts the show, but it is on the palate, with all its sexy, silky, sensuous, velvety textures, this is hedonism at its best. The voluptuous palate presence and the purity of the fruits in the finish is heart-stopping! The wine is a blend of 85% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. 11,854 Views Tasted Sep 21, 2019Grab fresh flowers, buy truffles, pick a bushel of fresh plums from the market and you get the idea of the aromatics. Full bodied, silky, plush and sensuous, the wine shows freshness coupled with ripe, juicy, fresh, dark fruits and concentration. Even with the concentration and tannins, the wine is a dancer -- light on its feet, balanced and fresh-faced. Blending 85% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine reached 14.5% ABV with a pH of 3.77. Picking took place October 3 to October 18, making this latest harvest in the history of Vieux Chateau Certan. 8,965 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2017 |
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2016
La Gravette de Certan (Pomerol)
Medium-bodied, forward, round and fruity, on the palate, the wine is soft, sweet, open and easy to drink. The finish, with its ripe plummy, elegant fruit is already charming. 5,395 Views Tasted Sep 26, 2019 |
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2015
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Cherry blossoms, licorice, truffle, licorice, cherry liqueur and cocoa have no trouble getting noticed. But it is the voluptuous, decadent, opulent, unctuous mouth feel, with its velvet textures and 60 second finish that steals the show. A candidate for wine of the vintage, this is a future legend in the making. 11,165 Views Tasted May 21, 2018Fresh flowers, ripe, cherry blossoms, truffle, licorice and cocoa start off the perfume. This wine has volume, concentration and freshness. On the palate, it displays a beautiful sense of symmetry, purity, sweetness and billowy tannins, leaving you with richness of flavor, freshness of fruit and lush, palatial textures. If you’re a thinking man with a penchant for blissful pleasure, this is your Pomerol. Blending 80% Merlot with 19% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine reached 14.6% ABV with a pH of 3.72. Picking took place September 17 and September 18, September 22, 23 and September 28, finishing October 2. 75% of the harvest was included in the Grand Vin, which is much higher than usual. 96-98 Pts 10,014 Views Tasted Apr 27, 2016 |
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2015
La Gravette de Certan (Pomerol)
Medium-bodied with a touch of flowers and sweet, red fruits, soft textures and a confident, spicy, fresh approach for early drinking. The wine was made from 87% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc. 88 - 90 Pts 5,128 Views Tasted Apr 27, 2016 |
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2014
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
A complete charmer, the wine is medium/full bodied, elegant, fresh, soft, silky and polished. You can already discern notes of truffle in the nose, and the purity in the red plums and dark cherries on the palate is just great. Give this until 2024 and you'll be set! 9,425 Views Tasted Jul 18, 2018A wine where the aromatics are forever going to be a key part of the experience, this vintage reflects violets, kirsch, earth and spicy aromas, creating a delicate, beguiling and complex perfume. Long, pure and vibrant, with ripe loads of fresh sweet cherries and black raspberries, if it puts on more weight in the aging process – and it just might – this wine could be even more impressive. I imagine the wine will hit the top end of my scoring range, but time will tell. Blending 80% Merlot with 19% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine reached 13.4% ABV with a pH of 3.62. 95-96 Pts 9,209 Views Tasted Apr 24, 2015 |
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2013
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
The wine is light in color, with a nose that is already showing its secondary truffle, forest floor, fresh herbs and red fruit character. Medium bodied, soft, polished and reserved, the wine ends with sweet, ripe, light, fresh, spicy cherries. This is not a wine to hold for long term aging. Instead, it is a nice Vieux Chateau Certan to enjoy in its youth. 4,218 Views Tasted May 25, 2016With primary notes of black licorice, flowers and dark cherry liqueur, this medium-bodied wine shows good fruit, soft textures and bright red fruits in the finish, concluding with silky textures and an intriguing minty note. From low yields of only 22 hectoliters per hectare, the wine was produced from a blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. The wine reached 13% ABV with a pH of 3.65. The Grand Vin was produced from just 33% of the harvest and is aging in 60% new French oak. The wine could fill out during élevage and become an even better wine. 90-93 Pts. 7,630 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2014 |
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2012
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Truffle, chocolate, cherry blossom and plum aromatics open to a fresh, soft, sweet, silky plum and black cherry finish. Give this just a few years to develop more charm, complexity and softness. 6,699 Views Tasted May 16, 2015Alexandre Thienpont described 2011 as a year for lean cats. That is not the case with the 2012. Harvested from October 11 through October 12, with yields of just 33 hectoliters per hectare, the wine reached 13% ABV. Blending 87% Merlot with 12% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine pops with truffle, coconut, flowers, wild strawberry and cherry. Silky in texture, medium-bodied and fresh, 2012 Vieux Chateau Certan is a wine of finesse and refinement. According to Alexandre Thienpont, some vintages of Vieux Chateau Certan favor Cabernet Franc, while other years are better for Merlot. 2012 is a Merlot vintage. The wine is refined, fresh, pure and elegant in style. It’s a vintage that focuses on the aromatics and purity of the fruit. It does not display the power of 2009 or 2010, instead it focuses on the refined, perfumed qualities of Vieux Chateau Certan. 93-94 Pts 6,939 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2013 |
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2011
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Licorice, coffee bean, cocoa, earth, spearmint and black raspberries, with good concentration and a sweet, supple character for the vintage. The wine is long, fresh and sweet, with the structure to age and develop. This is a very nice, stylish wine, but I wish it showed the same level of concentration it displayed in barrel. 8,935 Views Tasted May 21, 2014Blending 70% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Franc and a drop of Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine reached 13.6% ABV. At 37 hectoliters per hectare, the Grand Vin represents 70% of the harvest. With rich aromas of licorice, black plum jam, espresso, truffle, spice and incense, the wine is intense, fresh, chocolaty, sensuous, powerful, long, silky and packed with sweet, ripe, pure and concentrated layers of plum, black cherry and spice. 94-96 Pts 14,319 Views Tasted Apr 21, 2012 |
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2010
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Just starting to wake up, but still, there is no denying the incredible character of this wine. Opulent, vivacious, deep, long, intense, and seamless, the wine coats and stains your palate with non-stop layers of velvet-textured, perfectly ripe, black and red, cherries and plums with background notes of chocolate, truffle, and spice that allow black raspberries to show in the back of the finish. Drink from 2024-2055. 4,197 Views Tasted Nov 21, 2023The wine is very tight at the moment. The power is there as well as a wealth of perfectly ripe black cherries, plums, licorice, very dark chocolate and hints of flowers. Full-bodied, concentrated and dense, the wine demands at least 7-9 more years of sleep before it is ready to go. 8,956 Views Tasted Nov 3, 2020An expressive nose violets, truffle, boysenberry, chocolate and liqueur notes. Powerful, dense and perfectly balanced, the wine is intense, silky, velvety, pure, fresh, ripe and intense. The finish is long, seamless and coats your palate with flavor, texture and rich sensations that linger. The wine changes with each sip, giving you something new to think about with each sip, sniff and taste. This note was written about the wine based on tasting it with only a pop and pour. With time and air, this is going to a legendary vintage for Alexandre Thienpont and Vieux Chateau Certan that future generations of collectors will covet. If you have the funds, this is the wine to buy. 17,859 Views Tasted May 8, 2013This dark, almost opaque colored wine is packed and stacked with multiple layers of black plum, truffle, earth, floral, black cherry, black raspberry, boysenberry and chocolate with an intensity of flavor that continues expanding and developing in the mouth. This is extremely powerful, opulent and concentrated with layers of perfectly ripe, velvet textured fruits. Yet everything is in perfect balance and harmony from start to finish. 2010 Vieux Chateau Certan is expensive. Most of the top Pomerol wines are. But when you consider this wine is at the same level as, or better than Petrus, Le Pin and Lafleur, it's worth buying. You can take this to the bank, this is a future legendary Pomerol. 18,702 Views Tasted May 11, 2012The color of purple ink, truffles, black plums, chocolate fudge, fresh picked flowers, licorice and black raspberries filled your nose. Full bodied, mouth filling, expansive, deep and long. Finesse, power, silk, velvet and pure fruit. It’s important to look at the makeup of this wine which is 86%Merlot and equal parts 8% Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. This is even more dominated by Merlot than the 2009, which came in at 84% Merlot. While the wine reached 14.5% ABV, there is no sensation of heat in this stunning Bordeaux wine. 98-100 Pts 14,193 Views Tasted Jul 30, 2011Vieux Chateau Certan The chateau produces wine in vintages that favor Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, or Merlot. 2010 as well as 2009 are vintages where the Merlot clearly excelled and became the preponderance of the blend. The assemblage in this vintage is 86%Merlot, 8% Cab Franc 6% Cab Sauvignon. This is even more dominated by Merlot than the 2009, which came in at 84% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc. Shaped by low yields and high ABV, the wine clocked in at 14.5% ABV. The IPT levels are equally high at 90. As a point of reference, this level of IPT recorded in 2010 is the same as the chateau recorded in their press wine a decade ago. . 2010 Vieux Chateau Certan resembles dark, purple ink. Exotic liqueur aromas, plums, truffle, flowers, chocolate and spice aromas are found with little effort. The mouth filling wine paints your palate with sexy, ripe, liquid silk sensations. Spice, rich black licorice, pure plum and blackberry flavors coat your taste receptors. The long, seamless, intense, pure finish was too good to spit. When Alexandre was not looking, I put the wine where it belonged, twice! Sadly, this will not be cheap. However, if you’re seeking a historic Pomerol legend in the making, this is the wine to buy. 99-100 Pts 14,557 Views Tasted Apr 21, 2011 |
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2010
La Gravette de Certan (Pomerol)
Ready to go, the wine is round, lush, graceful and loaded with dark chocolate covered plums, herbs and flowers. This is in the right place to pop a cork today, helping you let the 2010 Grand Vin wait just a little bit longer. Do not hang on to this forever, as it\'s probably fully developed today. 4,425 Views Tasted Jan 14, 2020 |
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2009
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
What a sexy beast! In no time at all, this stunner displayed its true character. Luscious, opulent, sensuous textured, perfectly ripe fruit coat every nook and cranny of your palate. The wine is full, rich, deep and complex. Each layer of flavor builds and expands on your palate and in the finish. This is still primary, so you need to wait at least 6-8 years for more secondary development. But there is no doubt about this being a future legendary vintage for VCC. If you have the disposable income, this is the real deal. 10,580 Views Tasted Nov 3, 2020Off the hook! This is so sexy, sensual and hedonistic, it is probably illegal in some countries. The fruit is dripping with velvet, the wine coats your mouth, filling your palate with layer after layer with opulently textured, perfectly ripe fruit. Hints of flowers, truffle and chocolate are all over the place. Even in its youth, it is impossible not to be wowed by this stunning wine. It is going to age for decades. But if you have a case and want to take an early look, pop a cork and enjoy the ride. 8,380 Views Tasted Sep 20, 2019If you have been hearing about the level of wines from Vieux Chateau Certan and you want to know what all the fuss is about, this is the wine to open. This is so sultry, sexy, silky and opulent, it is clearly in a league of its own. The fruit is perfectly ripe. There is a decadence to the texture that grips you and does not let go. The wine is rich, dense and intense, yet light on its feet. There are no edges. The wine is perfectly seamless. Wines at this level do not come around often. This is a legend in the making. 12,101 Views Tasted Jul 18, 2018Flowers, truffle, fresh picked raspberry, chocolate, forest and spicy aromas pop the moment the wine hits the glass. Talk about sexy, supple and sensuous, this is the real deal! Pure silk, velvet and cashmere coat your palate with the essence of fresh plums. In time, this could hit triple digits. The only reason this wine does not score 100 Pts today is that the 2010 is even better! 18,476 Views Tasted May 11, 2012Last year, Alexandre Thienpont called 2009 the finest vintage of the modern era for Vieux Chateau Certan. Had 2010 not been produced, I agreed with him. Still, 2009 remains a stunning and decadent Pomerol wine. With licorice, flowers, chocolate, plums, spice and earthy aromas, this sensuous display of tastes and textures is almost off the charts. Silk and velvet, satin and lace, and then some! This complex wine finishes with an orgy coated with ripe, deep, black fruit and molten chocolate. 12,643 Views Tasted Jul 30, 20112009 Vieux Chateau Certan, a blend of 84% merlot, 8% cabernet sauvignon, and 8% cabernet franc, is deep, dark ruby. Its nose displays berries, flowers, chocolate, licorice, and plum liqueur. This concentrated, velvety textured wine is packed with elegant, powerful, sweet round fruit, and it has a long, pure, decadently textured finish of chocolate covered plums and black cherries. This is one of the top Pomerol wines from 2009 as well as one of the strongest wines of the vintage. 97-99 Pts During the tasting, Alexandre Thienpont stated without hesitation, “2009 is the best Vieux Chateau Certan of the modern era. The wine is similar in style to the famous 1950 and is the most concentrated vintage for the chateau since 1950.” He concluded by saying that the 2009 is a perfect vintage for him. Some vintages at the property favor cabernet franc, while others are better for merlot. That 2009 is a merlot year might not please all the traditionalists who prefer the large percentage of cabernet franc usually found in the wine. But I loved the 2009 and purchased a case after tasting it. Regardless of a note or score, the highest compliment any taster can pay to a chateau after tasting a wine is to buy it for his own cellar. 13,580 Views Tasted Aug 27, 2010 |
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2008
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Classic in style, the wine is more interesting on the nose with its mix of tobacco leaf, flowers, truffle, wet earth, cocoa and red fruits. Elegant, refined, fresh and pure, this is quite nice now, and promises to be even better with more cellaring. The wine was made from blending 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. 6,805 Views Tasted Sep 17, 2018In 2008, Château Vieux Chateau Certan used more Cabernet Franc than usual according to owner, Alexandre Thienpont. Thienpont prefers Cab Franc vintages for their longer hang time and resulting aromatic complexity. I've found that vintages allowing for equal quaily merlot and caberrnet franc are the years when Vieux Chateau Certan is the most seductive. Fresh cherries, black fruit, and plums are easy to find in the nose. The wine is rich on the palate and finishes with long sensations of plummy fruit. 92-95 Pts 12,167 Views Tasted Aug 30, 2009 |
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2007
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Slightly more interesting on the nose than on the palate, the wine opens with its blend of earth, truffle, herbs, flowers and red berries. Medium bodied, soft and without and hard edges, the finish shows sweet, red, earthy fruits that you want to linger. Fully mature, there is no reason to hod this for further development. 4,573 Views Tasted Jul 2, 2017Medium bodied with a sweet and tart, black and red cherry profile, complicated by herbs, olive tapenade and earthy notes, this is not going to age well. While it's a nice wine for drinking now, I'd drink it sooner than later. 5,459 Views Tasted Jan 28, 2013 |
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2006
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Showing a beautiful ruby hue, the melange of truffle, red berries, plum and dark cherries pops up with little effort. The fruit displays a spicy quality, with a beautiful purity in its essence. But the palate is perhaps the best part of the experience with its silky, lush, voluptuous textures. 2006 is one of the few vintages when the blend mirrors the vineyard planting. 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 6,126 Views Tasted May 25, 2016The wine has clearly opened, softened and become more interesting over the past few years. the nose displays an interesting floral complexity that adds to the cocoa, truffle plum and cherry core. The additional softness adds a lot to the charm and texture that brings more soft and silk to the medium/full bodied wine. A few more years should add more complexities and softness to the wine. 5,681 Views Tasted Jun 24, 2015This is a sturdy style of Vieux Chateau Certan that is more interesting with its complex aromatics of truffle, chocolate, flowers, plums and spice, than it is in texture. Slightly masculine in style, the wine will improve with more time in the cellar. I continue to have a preference for 2004, 2005 and 2008, over the 2006. 7,615 Views Tasted Feb 5, 2012This is a bigger, beefier style of VCC. Not as much finesse as the 05, but more tannin and concentration. I prefer the lush style of the 05 7,219 Views Tasted Jun 27, 2009 |
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2005
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Silky, lush, polished and fresh, the wine is starting to take on secondary qualities with its truffle, rose, dark chocolate, earth, cherry, smoke and licorice essences. The tannins are so ripe now, you can drink this today, else, wait another 5 years for even more development. 7,919 Views Tasted Jul 12, 2016Straddling the fence between hedonistic and intellectual, the truffle, rose, violet, tobacco and dark plum nose gets you, holds you and makes you take another sniff before you sip. Full bodied, concentrated, silky, smooth and still young, there is still tannin to soften. But there is so much ripe fruit you can drink it today. But if you have patience, give it 5 to 10 more years and you’re going to be taste pure magic. 9,855 Views Tasted Jun 28, 2015This keeps getting better and better. From start to finish, there is nothing out of place in this sensuous Pomerol. The truffle, black cherry, cocoa and floral nose, the layers of silky, sweet fruits and the opulent, polished, pure finish are a thing of beauty. I really like this wine and it's only starting to reveal its character. 10,933 Views Tasted Sep 16, 2013Still young, the wine needed a few hours of air before its beautiful array of fresh plum, chocolate, licorice, floral, dark cherry, earth and vanilla scents bloomed. Full bodied, polished, supple, round and rich, the tannins are pure silk and velvet. Give this another 5-8 years and you’ll be rewarded with a superb Pomerol. 11,350 Views Tasted May 11, 2012Truffle, earth, blackberry liqueur, forest floor and fresh picked flowers pop from the glass as soon it's poured. This rich, lush, polished, round wine is filled with black cherry, plum, spice and cocoa flavors. Elegance paired with chocolate sensuality is an apt descriptor for this beautiful Pomerol wine. 11,310 Views Tasted Aug 3, 2011Ripe, round, rich, stylish and even sexy, this deep Pomerol is filled with spice, floral, chocolate and dark berry notes with hints of black raspberry. Full bodied, with velvety tannins, this is what Bordeaux offers in the best vintages. 11,189 Views Tasted Jun 23, 2007 |
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2004
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Offering notes of flowers, wet earth, truffle, cherries, cigar box, lead pencil and savory herbs. Medium/full-bodied, the wine starts so soft, round and silky, with a core of sweet red fruits. The back end, at the end of the finish takes on an old-school, olive and herb character with some rusticity in the ending. The wine is close to mature, but it will speak a little bit louder to fans of older, classic Bordeaux. 4,206 Views Tasted May 21, 2021One of the wines of the vintage, 45 minutes in the decanted allowed the wine to fill out, soften and show off its silky, plum, cherry, floral and earthy charms. This is close to its peak, so if you are waiting to pop your bottles, it will get a bit better, but it is so good now, why hold off any longer? 6,376 Views Tasted Jul 17, 2018Truffle, dark chocolate shavings, violets, Asian spice and plum, soft, supple textures, sweet cherries, silky, red and black plums in the finish. From a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the same as the blend used in 2013, this has turned the corner and is drinking in the sweet spot today. There is room to improve from this point forward, but it’s really showing great today. Alexandre Thienpont took even more care than usual to make the best wine possible, due to the problems encountered with 2003, the previous vintage. In fact, it took three passes more than usual to complete the harvest. 8,117 Views Tasted Nov 30, 2014If you're looking for the best deal for Vieux Chateau Certan in today's world, look no further! This plum, chocoalte, truffle, black raspberry, herb and flowery wine is round, soft and refined, with a lush, sweet, cocoa and black cherry filled finish. There is a slight rough or dryness in the end note, but with everything else that is going on, that's quite easy to overlook. Still young, at close to 10 years of age, this is already starting to show its charms. This sells for about 30% of the 2009 and 2010, and half the price of the 2005. Plus it's a very nice wine. What more can you ask for? 7,571 Views Tasted Dec 3, 2013This vintage produced a classic style of VCC. More structured than flashy, this round, plummy, concentrated and complex wine is the one to buy. It's not far off the quality of the 2005 and it sells for half the price. 8,771 Views Tasted Jun 23, 2007 |
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2002
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Some lightening in color, coconut, plums and spicy earth makeup the aromatics. Masculine in style for the Chateau, the wine ends with a ripes plums and a hint of austerity. 6,152 Views Tasted Jun 27, 2009 |
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2001
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
45 minutes of air really brought out the floral, truffle and cherry elements. Medium/full bodied, soft, elegant and with loads of fresh, sweet, ripe, earthy fruits, this is still quite the charmer. 3,690 Views Tasted May 1, 2017Close to mature, this is a refined, elegant, silky style of Pomerol. Quite flowery on the nose, with licorice, plums, cherries, earth and perhaps a sprig of mint. The tannins are soft, silky and refined, leaving with a sweet kirsch sensation that stays with you in the finish. The bottle was splash decanted and poured about 2 minutes before serving, which felt about right. 4,342 Views Tasted Jan 18, 2017This is at full maturity. The truffle, black cherry, tobacco and plumy nose was in full bloom. But the wine, although soft and round, seems to be lighter and showing less fruit making me think that I want to drink my remaining bottles over the next few years. 4,867 Views Tasted Jan 11, 2015Suave, elegant, supple, round and frankly, delicious. This classy Pomerol is stuffed with chocolate covered plum, truffle, black cherry and spice. Rich, opulent and sexy, this Bordeaux wine is starting drink very well and it seems to get better each time I taste it. 6,588 Views Tasted Feb 26, 2014With only a splash decanting, cocoa dusted truffles, black cherry, earth and floral aromas made their presence known. On the palate, the wine is soft, elegant and silky, finishing with a fresh, clean, sweet, cocoa, earth and spicy boysenberry finish. This will probably improve over the next few years, but it's showing so well today, why wait? 5,505 Views Tasted Aug 23, 2013Truffle, black cherry jam, earth, spice, violets, roses, licorice and coffee bean open to a medium/full bodied, elegant, refined style of Pomerol with a long, fresh, sweet, black cherry and chocolate cherry finish. Decanted for 2 hours before serving was a mistake. The wine faded a bit after that extended exposure to air. 20-30 minutes is ample. 5,281 Views Tasted Jul 2, 2012Chocolate covered plums, licorice, mocha, flowers, truffle, black raspberry and smoke aromatics pop up with little effort. Silky, opulent textures mesh well with the fresh, dark plum and chocolate covered, black cherry, velvety finish. Every time I have this wine I am impressed. If you're seeking a solid example of Vieux Chateau Certan at a semi reasonable price, this is the wine to buy. 6,384 Views Tasted Dec 6, 2011Explosive aromas of chocolate, juicy black plums, flowers, earth, black cherries, licorice, truffle and spice make up the attention grabbing perfume. On the palate, layers of plush, elegant, pure, boysenberries and cocoa linger. This opulent, sexy Pomerol keeps getting better every time I taste it. For a Vieux Chateau Certan of this quality, while expensive, it's worth buying. 6,499 Views Tasted Aug 13, 2011Good complexity and a plush palate presence show this wines personality. Filled with ripe, elegant, polished plums and chocolate, round tannins and good density, this will improve. But if you have more than a few bottles, why wait? 6,710 Views Tasted Jun 27, 2010Beautiful plum, black raspberry, chocolate. flowers and cassis notes were easy to find. This is a structured wine for the vintage and will be better after a few more years of age. The velvet textures and ripe fruit are elegantly styled. 5,769 Views Tasted Mar 17, 2009 |
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2000
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Really starting to show its stuff as it approaches its 20th birthday. Sensual, soft and elegant in texture, full-bodied with vibrant, earthy, floral nuances, and a ripe, dark plum and cocoa filled finish. 6,030 Views Tasted Nov 24, 2018Truffle, smoke, earth, plum, cocoa powder, silky textures and medium/body with an opulent, black cherry liqueur sensation come alive in this classic vintage for Vieux Chateau Certan. This is starting to drink well now, and will only get better. 7,872 Views Tasted May 11, 20122000 Vieux Chateau Certan offers licorice, black plum, chocolate, truffle and dark cherry scents. On the palate the wine is rich, full bodied and concentrated with layers of ripe, black and red fruits. Still young, the wine continued gainging complexity in the glass for several hours. This Pomerol will improve for at least another 20 or more years. 9,664 Views Tasted May 16, 2011This opens with earthy, berry, floral, chocolate and boysenberry scents. The wine is lush, balanced, pure and fresh in your mouth. The spice filled, dark berry and coco finish stays with you. This is starting to open, but patience will add a lot of complexity to this outstanding Pomerol. 10,525 Views Tasted Aug 1, 2010Ripe, rich, round, big, bold, elegant and juicy, this polished, full bodied and concentrated, stylish Pomerol will get better and better over the next few decades. 10,280 Views Tasted Jun 27, 2009 |
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1999
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Light, bright and ready to drink, the wine is on the spicy, fresh, red plum and berry, medium bodied, side of the style range. Cherries, herbs and spice are found in the delicate finish. This is not a wine to cellar for ages. I'd drink it by the end of the decade, before it hits its 20th birthday. 4,485 Views Tasted Dec 29, 2012 |
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1998
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Really nice example of Pomerol here, with lots of fresh juicy plums, truffle, cocoa, flowers and dark cherry notes. Soft, but with an edge to the texture, this is drinking very well today. It will probably improve, but there is no reason to wait to pop a cork. 5,469 Views Tasted Nov 16, 2013Chocolate, rose petals, plums, truffle, earth, 5 spice and cocoa scents create the aromatics. Round, supple and filled with lush, sweet black cherry, mocha and kirsch, this is starting to drink really well. Give it a few more years and it should be even better. 6,618 Views Tasted May 11, 2012Produced from lower yields than normal (34 hectoliters per hectare), is a big, dense, concentrated wine. Still tight and tannic there is a lot going on under the surface. Rich, plummy, and filled with fabulous black raspberry aromatics, this wine will continue getting better for many years. It should be very long lived. I’m holding mine for another for 5-10 years. 8,585 Views Tasted Oct 13, 20111998 Vieux Chateau Certan - The perfume opened as soon as the cork was popped. Chocolate, rose petals, plums, truffle, earth, minerality, 5 spice and coca powder aromas were easy to find. The light ruby color was slightly more developed than it should have been for a 12 year old wine. On the palate, the wine was elegant, balanced, firm and sophisticated. The wine displayed some tannin that still needs resolution. The finish offered sensations of sweet black cherry and kirsch. When compared with '98 Trotanoy at the same tasting, the Trotanoy could have been the Latour of Pomerol while the Vieux Chateau Certan was was the Lafite Rothschild of the pair. 95 Pts 1998 is an anomaly for the property. Vieux Chateau Certan is one the few Pomerol wines that often includes a large amount of Cabernet Franc as well as Cabernet Sauvignon in the wine. 1998 did not follow the usual pattern. In '98, no Cabernet Franc was included in the blend. The wine was produced from 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. 8,332 Views Tasted Dec 23, 2010Dark berries, fresh flowers, chocolate, herbs, mushroom and mocha in the nose. Full bodied and filled with lush, soft, fresh dark plums, this elegantly textured, opulent wine ends with silky blackberry and chocolate flavors. As good as it is, it's only going to get better. 8,650 Views Tasted May 22, 2009 |
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1995
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
While there are truffle, earth, cocoa, plums, coffee and plum notes, there is a slight hard leaning to the wine that might not soften enough over time. This is probably a good example of old school Pomerol. It's a structured, masculine Pomerol with a tannic spine that seems to want more time in the cellar. Like many wines from the vintage, it's more interesting on the nose than the palate and it's still young. But is that a good thing for a wine approaching its 20th birthday? 4,410 Views Tasted Jan 10, 2013 |
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1994
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Firm and frankly austere, this classic natured wine feels more like it is from the Left Bank, than Pomerol. The nose with its red plums, truffle, tobacco, cigar wrapper and herb character is more fun than the bright, overly fresh, strict red berry palate and finish. 3,225 Views Tasted Sep 11, 2020 |
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1990
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Looking a bit older than its true age, this is fully mature, or just past its peak of maturity. The wine is more interesting on the nose, with its floral, smoke, thyme and cherry pipe tobacco character than on on the palate. Medium bodied, with sweet, spicy plums and soft textures on the palate, this requires consumption sooner than later before the remaining fruits fade. Popped and poured, this is not a wine to decant, as air would further erode the wine. 3,963 Views Tasted May 14, 2016Fully mature, and drinking splendidly, with truffle, tobacco, plum, cocoa, earth and fresh cherries, this medium bodied, silky, plush Pomerol feels great, offers complex aromas and the soft textures that come from a mature wine. What more can you ask for? 6,145 Views Tasted May 11, 2012 |
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1989
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Better on the nose, with its complex display of truffle, wet earth, floral, tobacco, cherry and plum notes, than on the soft, silky, medium bodied, dark, cherry profile. This is fully developed and will probably not move much past this point. 3,619 Views Tasted May 17, 2014 |
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1988
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Fully mature, medium-bodied, firm, leaning to the austere side of the style range, with a crisp, bright, red berry character with leafy, green herb and peppery accents along with truffle and tobacco nuances. Lovers of very classic Bordeaux will like this more than I did. 3,021 Views Tasted Sep 4, 2021 |
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1986
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Masculine, structured and firm, with a lean to the secondary side of the aromatic style range, making it smell more like a Medoc than a Pomerol, with its tobacco and earthy notes. The wine was a bit Jekyll and Hyde, depending on the sip, as it alternated between beefy, tannic and drying to hints of structured, polished and even plummy with cocoa. Successful for the vintage, it might please fans of classic Bordeaux more than it did me. 6,300 Views Tasted May 18, 2013 |
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1985
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Light in color, medium bodied, soft textured and focused more on the red fruit and truffle nose, than the easy drinking, cherry dominated palate. This is not a wine for further aging. 5,948 Views Tasted Jan 22, 2016 |
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1982
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Fully developed, this beauty served up the goods once it hit the glass, no decanting needed. The earthy, floral, tobacco, cherry and forest floor perfume took no effort to find. The wine had depth of flavor, just a touch of rusticity in the otherwise, round, soft, earthy, bright red fruit, and tobacco leaf-filled finish. 4,125 Views Tasted Nov 13, 2019Still young at 30 years of age, this voluptuous Pomerol offers a complicated perfume of truffle, cocoa powder, black cherry, earth, flowers, licorice and spice. Sensuous in texture, with a soft, sweet, long, silky finish, this beautiful expression of Vieux Chateau Certan has truly blossomed with age. I remember tasting this wine years ago and it was much lighter and less interesting. I wish I owned some... 4,974 Views Tasted Dec 10, 2012 |
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1971
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
What a beauty! With the texture of pure silky, the wine feels great as it enters your palate. But not before you take in all of its plum, cherry, cocoa, thyme, truffle and 100% cocoa. The patina of age paired with the luck of perfect provenance helped this bottle produce a sensuous, sexy, fully mature drinking experience. 3,978 Views Tasted Dec 1, 2018Charming, in all the right ways, and for all the right reasons. Silky, soft, and elegant, medium bodied, and with sweet, ripe, red fruits, earth, tobacco, herbs and flowers to round things off. Fully mature, it does not need any decanting, just pop and pour. 3,317 Views Tasted Apr 13, 2017 |
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1966
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Much better on the floral, earthy, tobacco driven, red berry palate, than on the medium bodied, austere, bright, red fruit palate. There is no reason to hold this bottle any longer. 2,853 Views Tasted Nov 12, 2017 |
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1964
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
This bottle was on fire from the moment the wine met the glass. Dried mint, flowers, truffles, forest floor, and sweet, ripe red fruits were everywhere. Silky, elegant, and with a depth of flavor that built and expanded on your palate. Fully mature, from a vintage that favored Pomerol, this is going to be hard to find, and provenance will matter, but if you can find a good source, probably an auction, grab them. Drink from 2024-2034. 408 Views Tasted Oct 13, 2024I am sure, or at least hope this was not a correct bottle. Because it came up short. Short in the finish and with its fruit. Medium bodied, with a great nose of roses, truffle, cherry and tobacco, the wine had a rustic, softness to its texture, but the finish, alternating between sweet and tart red fruits, with more tart than sweet and more earth than fruit was not what I was hoping for. 3,185 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2019 |
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1962
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Brick in color, you find smoky cherries, dried roses, thyme, leather, cinnamon, herbs, mesquite and tobacco leaf in the perfume. The palate is fresh, spicy, sweet and tart with a vi rant, elegant finish. Fully mature, this gem is still showing great at more than 60 years of age. Drink from 2023-2030. 1,973 Views Tasted Oct 1, 2023The wine is close to completely tertiary with notes of tobacco, leafy herbs, wet earth, red plums, and red burnt cocoa. Medium-bodied, a bit rustic, but in a charming way, the wine requires drinking before sooner than later as it faded in the glass after 30 minutes. Still, it was a pleasant 30-minute ride. Drink 2023-2025. 3,120 Views Tasted Jun 1, 2023 |
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1961
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Elegant, soft and finesse-driven, the medium/fullbodied wine opens with tobacco, floral, cocoa and red plum notes. Fully mature, the wine is refined, soft, fresh sweet and exudes a cherry filled charm. There is no reason to hold this any longer. 3,635 Views Tasted May 31, 2018 |
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1955
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
From a magnum, I imagine this is much better than you'll find in a regular bottle. Rustic textured on the palate, but there is also a beauty in the truffle, earthy, cigar box, plum and cherry personality. Air helped add softness to the wine, but this is definitely an old school charmer. 3,007 Views Tasted Mar 17, 2017 |
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1953
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
I might never see this wine again, but the memory is going to linger for years. The nose shoots out of the glass with its dried flowers, smoke, liqueur, cherry, truffle, and smoked cigar nose. The palate remains full, deep, and concentrated, and even though it is fully mature, the wine is surprisingly soft, lush and continues to express its once, probably opulent character. If you can find a well-stored example, grab it and invite me to taste it! Drink from 2023-2033. 1,879 Views Tasted Sep 25, 2023 |
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1952
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Perhaps it is fading a bit, but there is still more than enough to make this an exciting, tasting experience. Loads of cocoa, earth, green, leafy herbs and red fruits with a savory edge are found on the nose and palate. Soft textured, slightly fading, crisp, red fruits with hints of earth, bitter cocoa and tobacco in the finish. If you are lucky enough to have a bottle, drink up as there is no reason to hold this any longer. 2,340 Views Tasted Sep 4, 2021Now, here's a wine I never thought I'd see again. After the explosion of truffles, earth, bitter chocolate, wet forest, cherry and hints of floral notes, the wine was pure silk on the palate. The spicy, red cherry finish was sublime. 3,752 Views Tasted May 18, 2013Tasted double blind, this was a huge surprise on multiple levels. Truffles, earth, tobacco, dried pit fruit, all spice, coffee bean and forest floor scents started the aromatic fireworks. Silky textures with the velvet patina of age, coupled with an elegant, sweet, spice filled finish was a thrill a sip wine. This bottle tasted like a 20-30 year old wine. 4,097 Views Tasted Nov 20, 2008 |
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1950
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
1950 is not a vintage I see often. But the best bottles have been incredible. The silky, earthy gem is packed with wet earth, truffle, tobacco leaf, herbs and red fruits. The wine is incredibly soft and gentle on the palate, loading you up and leaving you with sweet, red fruits, earth and leafy herbs. 2,318 Views Tasted Sep 4, 2021 |
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1948
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
This is not a wine I taste often. But this bottle seemed marred by volatile acidity. Underneath the balsamic and varnish, you could find glimpses of walnuts, port, earthy, leafy tobacco and plums, but you had to work on it. The plummy finish was a bit rustic. It is possible better bottles exist. It is hard to say. When a wine is close to 75 years, it is always a gamble. 2,701 Views Tasted Mar 25, 2021 |
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1947
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
Here is a wine I never thought I see. Holy FK! What a bottle and what a wine!!! The earthy nose was loaded with cigar box, chocolate, truffle, Cuban cigar wrapper, mint, cherry and leafy aromas. Opulent, intense, lush, rich and long on the palate, the wine rests on your palate long enough to give it thought, telling you, you need to take another sip, becuase this is a wine you are not going to see again. 3,012 Views Tasted Sep 4, 2021 |
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1945
Vieux Château Certan (Pomerol)
The incredible potpourri nose, coupled with dried tobacco leaves, roses, dark strawberries, truffles, leafy herbs, and spicy red plums hit all the right notes. Balanced, fresh, long, and complex, finishing with a rustic, elegance, truffle, earth, and red fruits that really hold your focus. A true legend in the glass. I may never see this again, but the memory is impossible to forget. If perfectly well you can drink from 2022-2030. 2,601 Views Tasted Oct 26, 2022 |
