
Vieux Chateau Certan 2017 Pomerol


Composed of 80% Merlot. 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. the 2017 Vieux Château Certan sports a deep garnet-purple color. No mincing about. the bouquet absolutely prances out of the glass with stunning scents of candied violets. chocolate-covered cherries. roses and eucalyptus over a core of black plum preserves. mulberries. black raspberries and blueberry pie plus wafts of licorice. iron ore and truffles. Medium to full-bodied. the palate has fantastic balance and expression. with very fine-grained. silt-like tannins and well-knit freshness. finishing with epic length and perfume.

The purity and complexity is so mesmerizing for 2017. Raspberries and black fruit with sweet-tobacco and blood-orange undertones. Medium to full body. The tannins are so polished and pure and push out the edges on the wine. Fresh and pretty. Deep. Needs two or three years to perfect it. Try after 2023.

This delivers a terrific rush of raspberry ganache and steeped plum fruit that holds center stage throughout. flanked by singed apple wood and dried anise notes and backed on the finish by hints of Lapsang souchong tea. warm fruitcake and mineral. A step ahead of the pack in this vintage. Merlot. Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2022 through 2040. 3.666 cases made.—J.M

Just as it was en primeur. the 2017 Vieux Château Certan is regal and soaring right out of the glass. Inky blue and purplish fruit. chocolate. licorice. lavender. spice and mint come together in a dense. dark and powerful Pomerol. The 2017 is an explosive. vivid wine of monastic beauty. In this vintage. VCC is especially dark and somber. which adds to a real feeling of mysterious beauty. It is a towering achievement from Alexandre and Guillaume Thienpont.

Composed of 81% Merlot. 14% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Vieux Château Certan gives up gorgeous black raspberries. crushed black currants and warm black berries on the nose with chocolate-covered cherries. violets and star anise suggestions plus black truffles and wood smoke. The palate is medium to full-bodied with wonderful concentration in the mid-palate and firm. very finely pixelated tannins. with seamless freshness and fantastic length.

This is a dense and compact center palate with a solid and pointed intensity. Full body. firm and silky tannins and an energetic finish. Complete. Harmonious.

The 2017 Vieux Château Certan was picked in three passages through the vineyard. 12 and 13 September. 18 and 19 September and finally 25 September to 2 October. The yields are 37hl/ha with 14.2° alcohol and a 3.75 pH. It is the first vintage to contain Cabernet Sauvignon for several years. It has a very pure. Merlot-driven bouquet with black cherries. redcurrant and wild strawberry scents. just a hint of iris and incense in the background. The 70% new oak is nicely integrated here. The palate is medium-bodied with edgy tannin. a deep well of black and red fruit interwoven with allspice. truffle. white pepper and a little sage. This Vieux Château Certan manifests more complexity and profundity as it aerates. delivering genuine. spine-tingling mineralité on the persistent finish. It gains even more precision when I return to the property to re-taste it again. Tasted twice. ten days apart at the property.

No frost at all - junge Anpflanzungen des Cabernet Sauvignon schafften es in den Erstwein. weil sie eine zusätzliche. fruchtige Komponente in den Wein gaben. Ein sehr klassischer Stil des VCC. sehr aromatisch. die Nase ist klar und fruchtdominiert. Cassis und viele dunkle kleine Beeren. Die Tannine sind sehr elegant und geschliffen. Sein Finale ist sehr lang und sehr reintönig. Tolle Länge mit frischer Säure und klarer Mineralität. 97-98+