Vieux Château Certan, Pomerol, 2015

Name: Vieux Château Certan, Pomerol
Brand: Vieux Château Certan
Price: 2447.84 GBP

Available Vintages

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justerini & brooks tasting note

Alexandre Thienpont described his 2015 as 'gentle strength'. An apposite appraisal of yet another masterful VCC. Produced from 80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc and just 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, this is very definitely a Merlot vintage for Alexandre. The Merlots bring power, structure and provides the framework; the Cabernets lend a freshness, fragrance and balance. As with Petrus, VCC is quietly authoritative. It is all about poise and balance. This is almost inconspicuous such is the harmony and gentleness of touch. It is beautifully fragrant with aromas of bilberry, mulberry, sensual damsons, cassis, incense and red cherry. The palate is texturally superb; a sumptuous, sleek array of floral fruit and spice. It is so graceful, one doesn't even detect the 14.6% of alcohol. Wonderful!

critic reviews

95/100Neal Martin,Vinous

The 2015 Vieux-Château-Certan can be highly variable from bottle to bottle. After two disappointing examples, this came out of the blue. It has an intense and powerful bouquet of black cherry, tobacco, brown spices and loamy aromas. This is very complex and compelling. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy, firm tannins surrounded by plenty of flesh. This is vibrant, with a little dark chocolate and espresso toward the finish though it doesn't mask the terroir. I have to put a question mark against my score due to its variability. Tasted blind at the 2015 Bordeaux Ten-Year-On tasting.

DRINKING WINDOW 2028 - 2052

date of review 06/2025

97/100Jane Anson,Inside Bordeaux

Understated brilliance, with restraint shown in its precisely carved cassis and bilberry fruit on the opening, softening through the mid palate to show creamier raspberry and damson fruit, with black truffles and cocoa bean delivering the Pomerol caress. Expert construction, tannic architecture fully in focus but overlaid with the succulence of the vintage, such a good wine that has decades of it. . 50% new oak for ageing. Alexandre Thienpont owner.

DRINKING WINDOW 2025 - 2042

date of review 02/2025