France

Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan Pomerol

Bordeaux

Pomerol

Sødmefulle sorte bær, varme solbær, sorte bjørnebær, vanilje, noe jordlig toner, men av det balanserte. 

Usedvanlig varm til 2017 å være, noe jeg sjeldent har vært borti. 

Smak av sorte og røde bær. Varm, konsentrert frukt. Tatt og balansert. Veldig forvirret over fruktstilen opp mot årgangen, derimot så var det helt nydelig. 

94-95p.

Expert

Flott mørk, nærmest noe vandig frukt, av det positive. Toffee, lys kaffe, mint og lys lakris.

Smak av sorte bjørnebær, mørke blåbær, lakris, jordlig, veldig pene krydder toner. Veldig flott syre, klassiske Bx tanniner.

97-98p.

2022 (barrel sample)

Aroma av jordbær, hylleblomst, perfyme, plomme, blåbær, søt lakris, vanilje, sjokolade,

Dette var noe helt spesielt, finesse og presisjon ut av en annen verden. 

Vertikalt ved siden av 2016 er 2022 mye mer rød frukt dreven og en litt mindre robust tanninstruktur.

Poeng 99-100

WSET 2

Skilful winemaking, with fragrant curling aromatics, gunsmoke, cigar. This is a year for taking the pleasure in aromatics, so make sure you give it time to open up, as there is a lovely structure here that curls around red roses, raspberry puree, full of joy. No chaptilisation, very light fining. 65% new oak, 3.63ph. Harvest September 24 to October 6.

Inside Bordeaux

Deep purple-black in color, the 2020 Vieux Chateau Certan is composed of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the youngest vines being 41 years old and the oldest 80 years old.  The nose is shut tight to begin, needing a lot of air to call forth beguiling scents of rose oil, sandalwood, star anise, and black truffles - to begin - giving way to a profound core of plum preserves, blueberry compote, boysenberries, and molten chocolate with a fleeting waft of vanilla pod and sassafras. The full-bodied palate is fantastically structured, with very firm yet very fine, smooth tannins and amazing tension supporting the dense, multilayered fruit, finishing with epic length and a whole firework display of mineral and floral notes. This is superb.

by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

The tannins are firm and strict, keeping the dark fruits carefully in line. Tons of liquorice and slate, with a beautifully fragrant edge of violets, peonies, smoke. It has the kind of austerity that makes you happy to be patient, hiding layers and layers of nuance, with the sleight of hand between density and lightness, so it rises and falls, breathing through your palate, stretching its limbs. A delicious and beautifully classical expression, intellectual also, finishing with oyster shell salinity. 70% new oak, 40hl/h yield, harvest September 23 to October 3.

Alexandre and Guillaume Thienpont are deeply thoughtful, instinctive winemakers who spend most of their time outside in the vineyards, and prove once again here why VCC is such a well-loved Pomerol. Three years along and you start to see the sweeter edged Merlot fruits where during En Primeur this was very much Cabernet Franc dominant. I get a beautiful touch of strawberry and raspberry puree which is given form by precise brushstroke tannins, white pepper and smoked butterscotch. A careful selection from the 23 plots ensured only pristine fruit - meaning not overly-affected by the summer heat - made it into the wine, showing the level of commitment at this estate. Harvest September 19 to October 9, 3.75ph, 40 hl/ha yield.

Pure and intense nose with dense dark fruit, blackberry, crème de cassis, aniseed, sage and fine oak in the background, still youthful but layered and nuanced with fine precision. The palate is dense and powerful yet without heaviness,elegant with a very supple texture, finely polished tannin with gorgeous dark fruit flavours, finely spicy with wet tobacco, gravel and pure dark fruit, great flavour intensity, freshness and a remarkably long pure finish.

Sommelier

Deep garnet-brick in color, the 2014 Vieux Chateau Certan is a little shy to start, offering up faint notes of candied violets and licorice opening out to a core of preserved plums and Christmas cake plus a waft of sandalwood. The  full-bodied palate delivers a refreshing backbone and fine-grained tannins to support the taut, powerful black fruits, finishing long and earthy.

At Vieux Chateau Certan, production of the top wine fell by 75% in this vintage, after extreme selection by owner Alexandre Thienpont. At 10 years old, it retains a dark ruby colour and shows balance and grace, centred around cold ash, undergrowth and remnants of charred blackberry fruit studded with pomegranate and spice. Has appeal, very much in its drinking window. 23hl/h yield.

The 2012 Vieux Chateau Certan is medium to deep garnet-purple colored. It charges out with impressively pure, laser-precise, and intense scents of blueberry compote, chocolate-covered cherries, and warm plum, plus hints of cinnamon toast, dried roses, and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, rich, and oh-so-classy in the mouth, the palate delivers velvety tannins and compelling tension, finishing very long and opulent. The blend this year is 87% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Duft av modne plommer, bjørnebær, lær og treverk 
Modne mørke bær, sødmefull frukt med integrerte tanniner og en god lengde 

High floral and gunsmoke aromatics, this is intense and concentrated. Where the 2009 has more immediately appeal, this 2010 is clearly going to deliver over the decades. Coiled and reserved tannins, a ton of texture and powerful black fruits, precise and poised, this is exception.

Rich and deep plum in colour, still with a vibrant reflection. This is right at the top tier of the 2009s, juicy and controlled, capturing appellation typicty in the soft waves of grilled caramel without being sweet or heavy, opens to waves of violet and tomato leaf, sculpted, juicy, delicious.

I've found a number of 2000s finally overtaking the 2001s this year, after a long time when the 2001 vintage was clearly showing better. But there are still moments when 2001 reigns, and this Vieux Château Certan is a case in point. Slowly unrolls, gathering in power as it goes, blackberry, damson and raspberry fruits, together with truffle, toasted almonds, tobacco leaf, ash. A great moment to open and enjoy this wine, made for sharing.

Første flaske korket. Flaske nr 2; rett fra flasken, en del brett, mørke plommer, blyantspiss, noe søtlig tobakkspreg. Fin nese. I munnen flott anslag med klar rød frukt mot røde plommer og noe jordbær. Bra struktur, kjølig frukt, stram, fin syre. Presis. medium tanniner, finkornede. Medium pluss lengde. Etter 4t i åpen flaske; blåbær, noe rød paprika. I munnen, ganske stram, ren frukt, ikke like mye fruktsødme som i 86. Strukturert.

2023	No priceNot available	Extraordinary
2022	No priceNot available	Extraordinary
2021	No priceNot available	Outstanding
2020	3 852,40 krNot available	Extraordinary
2019	2 832,90 krAvailable	Extraordinary

Category	Red wine
Vinmonopolet no.
Producer	Vieux Chateau Certan
Vintages	2017
Country	France, Bordeaux, Pomerol
Bottle	75 cl

Alcohol	14.5 %
Acid	%
Sugar	< 3 g/l

Packaging	Glass
Cork type
Selection	Spesialutvalg
Wholesaler	LaMarc Wines AS
Carrier	Skanlog AS