2009 Vieux Chateau Certan
Buying options
Tasting notes
Silkier, sexier and more accessible – even at cellar temperature, smoky, loaded with black fruit and rich in flavour with layers there and so much more to come, both if warmer and with some years in bottle. Interesting to see if this will close up at all.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Wine Spectator
More reviews and scores
Full bottle just 1,284 g. Evolved dark garnet with a shaded rim. Heady, rich, definitively hedonistic Pomerol nose. Such a beautiful blend of ripeness and freshness on the finish. Beautifully polished tannins and restrained, focussed, gorgeously integrated elements with a lovely long finish. Just a hint of Cabernet Franc aroma on the finish. Such a joy! (JR)
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.
88 % Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. ‘ In 2009, Bordeaux ISVV’s five conditions for a perfect vintage were fulfilled with clockwork precision. A cold winter and a superb spring, with an even and early budburst. A hot and dry summer, enabling healthy ripe grapes but with a small crop. Heavy rain one week before harvest enabled the grape skins to complete ripeness and increasing the potential crop size.’ Yield 40 hl/ha. Dark, glowing crimson. Heady nose with lots of voluptuous fruit. Really luscious – a velvety Pomerol overlaid with VCC freshness and structure. Difficult not to love! A glorious wine to drink now. Really juicy. Long. A wine for hedonists. (JR)
About the producer
The original Château at Vieux Château Certan dates back to around 1770 but the modern history of the estate begins in 1924 - the year that Belgian wine merchant Georges Thienpont purchased the property.