VIEUX CHÂTEAU CERTAN

2008 Pomerol

Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
District Right Bank
Sub-district Pomerol & Lalande de Pomerol
Village Pomerol
ABV 14%

Alexandre Thienpont explained that the malos had been very late this year, so the assemblege was only made ten days before we tasted. 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. "The first time since 2000 that all the Cabernet Sauvignon has gone into the blend. A good wine from a cold year - the vintage was saved by the fact that the crop was small." Fresh, pure, oaky, quite light, delicate fresh cassis. Blackcurrant jelly, drily fruity and transparent. Very pure and fresh, but not massive or even particularly concentrated. Rating: 90-91 L&S (Apr 2009)


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The 2008 Vieux Château Certan has a timid bouquet at first and demands a lot of coaxing from the glass. I wonder if this is in the middle of a closed down phase? This VCC seems to leave all the action on the palate: filigree tannin, a silver bead of acidity, very pure and complex towards the finish with truffle and smoke infusing the red berry fruit. Wonderful persistence (as usual for VCC). Keep it for a few more years is what Alexandre Thienpont suggests and who am I to disagree. Drinking range: 2023 - 2040 Rating: 93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Feb 2018)

Bright red ruby. Vibrant aromas of kirsch, chocolate, mint and tarragon. Intensely flavored and juicy, with excellent precision and a restrained sweetness to the dark fruit and mineral flavors. With its strong impression of energy, this is less easygoing than most 2008 Pomerols but built for a slow and graceful evolution in bottle. Serious and strong: I would not be surprised if this wine merited an even higher score by about 2020. Rating: 92 Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (Jul 2011)

(70% merlot, 20% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon) Ruby-red. Perfumed, sweet nose offers red cherry, raspberry, cinnamon and mineral aromas. Sweet and round on entry, then polished and smooth in the middle, with raspberry and red cherry flavors extended impressively by bright, harmonious acidity. A potential knockout. By the way, the acidity is higher than usual at 3.45 grams per liter, and the wine does in fact have a very fresh feel. For the first time since 2000, cabernet sauvignon is back in the blend. People believe you can only use cabernet sauvignon two years out of ten in Pomerol, and I'm proving them right, said Alexandre Thienpont, who limited the percentage of new oak to 80%, as he had done in '07 (previously he used 100% new barriques Rating: 91-93 Ian d'Agata, www.vinousmedia.com (May 2009)

Vieux Château Certan

Founded in the 16th century, the Vieux Chateau Certan has kept its name since 1745. In 1924 it was acquired by Georges Thienpont. Situated in the heart of Pomerol, this Château is the oldest cru of the appellation. Since its early days it has gained a reputation of being one of the rarest and most prestigious crus in the world. It is hailed for the exquisite finesse of its wines, the elegance of the chartreuse chateau surrounded by age-old trees, the order and quality of the vineyard – Vieux Château Certan inspires and fascinates wine connoisseurs around the world.

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