Tasting Notes
JancisRobinson.com 18+
78% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon. Density and complexity, the nose reserved but with a floral touch. Palate full and suave but without exaggeration, the tannins again dense but finely honed. Builds on the palate, the finish long and persistent, a stony, saline edge emphasising the freshness and balance. A real wine that shows both vigour and restraint. (JL)
Anticipated maturity: 2030-2050
Robert Parker 100
One of the wines of the vintage, the 2019 Vieux Chateau Certan unfurls in the glass with a striking bouquet of cassis and cherries mingled with notions of violets, loamy soil, sweet spices and incense. Full-bodied, ample and layered, it’s seamless and enveloping, with a fleshy core of beautifully vibrant fruit, lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins. Concluding with a long, resonant finish, this perfumed, sensual Vieux Chateau Certan is a remarkable achievement from Alexandre and Guillaume Thienpont.
Anticipated maturity: 2029-2059
Vinous 96
The 2019 Vieux Château Certan is a heady, rich wine that captures all of the exoticism of the year. Crème de cassis, graphite, crushed rocks, lavender and spice are some of the many aromas and flavors that run through the 2019. This is an especially ripe, unctuous style for VCC. It will be interesting to see what aging brings, as there is plenty of grip and structure underneath a core of dense fruit that remains remarkably primary.
