Bordeaux 2023: Vieux Château Certan

Even when tasting from barrel, there’s a temptation not to spit… The aromas are always alluring, the texture always velvety and caressing, and the finish detailed, bright and refreshing. It ticks all the boxes and some. The 2023 is a wonderful example that will bring immense pleasure to anyone lucky enough to get their hands on it. Another exquisite wine from one of the greatest château in Bordeaux.

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“A blend of 82% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Franc, Vieux Château Certan 2023 has a pH of 3.74 and it is deep garnet-purple in color. Notes of fresh blackberries, juicy plums, and black cherries slowly emerge from the glass, opening out to fragrant notes of violets, star anise, and black truffles, followed by wafts of wood smoke and cardamom. The medium-bodied palate is taut and muscular with firm, rounded tannins and seamless acidity, finishing with many, many layers of earth, spice, and floral notes. This is pure latent power.” – 97-99+/100, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, May 2024

“The 2023 Vieux Château Certan is like a drug. Its exotic aromatics, deeply layered fruit and sublime textures are just captivating. I tasted the 2023 from an assembled base blend and four core components. Every wine was nothing short of breathtaking. When I think of the archetypes of greatness in Bordeaux, VCC is one of them. The 2023 is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Like all producers, Alexandre and Guillaume were forced to decide whether to pick their Cabernets before or after the September rains. As it turned out, none of the lots picked before the rain made it into the Grand Vin. Only those picked later were deemed of high enough quality.” – 96-98/100, Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, April 2024