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Vieux Château Certan is the very definition of Pomerol prestige, sitting at the heart of the famed plateau surrounded by the likes of Petrus and Le Pin. With a history dating back to the mid-1700s, this estate has evolved into one of the most sought-after names in Bordeaux. The blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon creates a wine that embodies both elegance and power, with an uncanny ability to age for decades.

The vineyard's exceptional terroir—comprising clay, gravel, and blue clay soils—gives the wine its signature complexity. With vines up to 80 years old, the fruit is rich in depth, producing wines that are both structured and refined. Under the guidance of Alexandre Thienpont, Vieux Château Certan has embraced modern technology while maintaining its tradition of excellence. Sustainability, precision viticulture, and innovative winemaking techniques ensure each vintage is a masterpiece.

The wine itself is a perfect harmony of fruit, spice, and earth, with silky tannins and an incredible finish that lingers for minutes. With rare vintages like 2009, 2010, 2015, and 2020, Vieux Château Certan stands as a testament to the unmatched quality and timeless appeal of Pomerol’s finest. If you’re lucky enough to own a bottle, you’re holding a true piece of Bordeaux history.

Vinous Media awarded the 2020 vintage 98 points claiming: “Quality is exceptionally high"

The 2020 Vieux Château Certan, a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, is a stunning Pomerol with intense aromas of blackberries, violets, truffles, and spices. On the palate, it’s full-bodied yet refined, with velvety tannins and layers of dark fruit, chocolate, and earthy notes. The wine has remarkable depth, balance, and freshness, leading to a long, resonant finish. Already approachable, it will evolve beautifully over the next few decades, making it a future classic. Drink from 2027 to 2065.

An extraordinary effort, the wine is almost opaque in color. The haunting perfume offers a bouquet of flowers, black, red and blue fruits, chocolate, spice, espresso and hints of truffles on the nose. Incredibly concentrated, but equally light on its feet, the wine is effortless to taste. With polished, velvet textures and fruits that express purity coupled with spice, chocolate, wet earth and sensuality, the finish crosses the 60 second mark and keeps on going! This is a youthful look at one of the future legendary vintages for Vieux Chateau Certan. If this is your thing, and if you have the extra income, buy it now as prices will only rise from here. Drink from 2027-2065. ~100 Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider 

The 2020 Vieux Château Certan was picked from September 14 at a low yield of 30hl/ha. The nose might be even better than the 2019 with blackberry, black truffle, pencil shavings and a touch of sous-bois. The aromatics are heavenly, perhaps even more complex than the 2016. The palate is medium-bodied with a satin-textured entry and fabulous delineation. This is a Pomerol whose engine purrs like a vintage Rolls Royce. Maybe the 2019 has a touch more edginess on the finish but this is the real deal. It's a sensational, multi-dimensional Pomerol for the ages. Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove, Belgium. ~100 Neal Martin, Vinous Media

The 2020 Vieux Château Certan is killer stuff and unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage. Deep and rich, it offers an incredible array of red, blue, and black fruits along with floral nuances and subtle spice. Full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, it displays a gorgeous, structured profile with firm yet perfectly ripe tannins and a focused, balanced mouthfeel. This pure, brilliant Pomerol deserves 8-10 years of bottle age and will have 40-50 years of longevity. Hats off to the Thienpont family for another magical wine. Drink 2033-2085. ~100 Jeb Dunnuck

Real Pomerol here with black berry, chocolate, hazelnut and walnut aromas and flavors. Dark fruits. Crushed stone. It’s full and intense with great focus. Powerful yet so balanced and intense. Juicy center palate. Fantastic length. Great clarity. Drink after 2028. ~99 James Suckling

A pure, classy, understated VCC that manages to be elegant and delicate while hinting its potential for glamour and star power. Coiled and tightly knitted with rich and ripe black fruit flavours; currants, plums, figs and blackcurrants with a scintillating energy and grip. Effortlessly stylish yet beguiling, more of a sleeping beauty right now, concentration is clear with such detail to the fruit, well integrated tannins and thrilling acidity, but delivered sleekly. Confident winemaking on show, a wine that has been 'crafted for our children and grandchildren' says Alexandre Thienpont. ~98 Decanter

A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Vieux Château Certan bursts with aromas of blackberries, sweet spices, rose petals, orange zest, burning embers and violets framed by a deft application of creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it's rich and layered, with a more broad, unctuous profile than the pure and refined 2019, concluding with a long, resonant finish. This is more immediate out of the gates than the 2019, and I suspect it will not prove quite as long lived, but it is a terrific effort from the Thienpont family. ~97 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

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