Vieux Chateau Certan 2014

Pomerol

Units	Size	Case size	GBP Price:	Quantities	Buy

Tasting Notes
The 2014 Vieux-Château Certan has an attractive bouquet with blackberry, clove and truffle aromas, nicely defined though it seems to have closed up a little since I tasted it just after bottling. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and a keen thread of acidity. The palate shows the real potential, more than the nose at the moment. There is wondrous linearity and precision and it finishes with haunting grace. At this tasting I marked this lower than I wanted because it just continuously improved in the glass after I announced my score to the group. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. Score: 96 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2022-2050 01 March 2018
The 2014 Vieux Chateau Certan is a blend of 80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, picked in three stages: 19-20 September, 29 September to 2 October, and 7 and 8 October. The yields came in at 38.7 hectoliters per hectare with 13.4% alcohol. It was one of my stars of the vintage and now in bottle, I find no reason to change that. It is endowed with an exquisite bouquet, really one of the best I encountered throughout my tastings: perfumed blackberry, wild strawberry, cold stone and wilted rose petals. Like in barrel, it is not powerful, yet it is blessed with wondrous precision. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity and fine tannin, a slightly masculine VCC due to its linearity and precision. There is tension here from start to finish, a sophisticated and cerebral Pomerol that transcends the growing season. It is a totally different kettle of fish to the 2015 (and doubtless the pre-natal 2016). This is unashamedly classic in style, fanning out towards the mineral-rich finish with great frisson and energy. A cellar without the 2014 Vieux-Château-Certan would be a great pity. Score: 96 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020-2050 31 March 2017
The Vieux Château Certan 2014 is a blend of 80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Franc, picked in three stages: 19-20 September, 29 September to 2 October and 7 and 8 October. The yields came in at 38.7 hectoliters per hectare with 13.4% alcohol. Noticeably deep and clear in color, the nose takes time to 'rev up' but stick with it because it eventually reveals exquisite pure blackberry and briary scents. It is not a powerful set of aromatics but they are so finely tuned and pretty. The palate is one of the best you will find this vintage: very precise and focused, here the intensity delivered by that Cabernet Franc, complex and cerebral like the best VCC’s. Truffle, blackberry, woodland aromas waft temptingly from the glass and there is the perfect balance of sweetness and reserve to beg another sip. Alexandre and his son, Guillaume Thienpont may have overseen the best wine of the vintage. Score: 95 - 97 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2018-2035 01 April 2015
The 2014 Vieux Château Certan is glorious stuff that has more personality and sexiness than just about every other wine in the vintage. Kirsch, black cherries, flowers, forest floor and exotic spice characteristics all emerge from this ethereally textured, elegant, beautifully rich 2014 that has notable acidity, sweet tannin, and a great finish. With an almost Burgundian elegance and purity, it’s already drinking nicely, but will be even better in another 3-4 years and keep for two decades. Score: 97 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Maturity: 2018-2022 15 February 2018
This is so gorgeous with black truffles, stones and subtle blackberries. Black mushrooms, too. Full-bodied, so dense and deep with very silky tannins and an endless finish. The density of fruit is superb. Truly irresistible. Drink in 2022 but already wonderful to drink. Score: 97 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 13 February 2017
There’s a purity of fruit in this wine that shows the soil and uniqueness with wet earth, tobacco, mushroom and red fruits. Full and silky with fine tannins and a fresh finish. The 20% cabernet franc makes this wine great. It’s like a wonderfully cut ruby. Score: 95 - 96 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 27 March 2015
One of the unquestioned stars of the vintage, the 2014 Vieux Château Certan soars out of the glass with aromatic intensity, bright acids and finely sculpted fruit. Cool, intense but very much reserved in the style of the year, the 2014 exudes class. The flavors are intense and vibrant throughout. Dark red and purplish-hued stone fruit, lavender, mint and spice lead into the striking finish. The 2014 is just as impressive today as it was from barrel. As always, Vieux Certan has the rare ability to confer power without excess weight. The 2014 is a magical bottle. Readers who can find it should not hesitate. The blend is back to classic proportions of 80 % Merlot and 20 % Cabernet Franc. (97+ Points) Score: 97 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2024-2054 01 February 2017
One of the highlights of the vintage, the Vieux Château Certan is a wine of total finesse. Sweet floral notes meld into a core of blue and purplish-hued stone fruits. The tannins are present, but they are noble and barely perceptible. With time in the glass, the floral/savory notes become even more expressive, but it is the wine's textural elegance that truly elevates it. The 2014 finished with bracing freshness and palpable sense of energy. Readers who can find the 2014 should not hesitate, as it is truly superb.(93-96+ Points) Score: 93 - 96 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com 01 April 2015
Gorgeous, with a core of remarkably pure blackberry, raspberry and black currant fruit wrapped up in a fresh tobacco leaf accent. Everything is carried by silky yet persistent tannins, while the finish lets suave warm stone and singed juniper details fill in. Shows some coiled-up energy, which should make for fun cellaring. Best from 2020 through 2035. Score: 96 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2026-2035 11 January 2017
Reserved in terms of aroma, but shows beautiful mouthfeel and depth, with pure cassis, blueberry and plum fruit that glides along, laced with a lively tobacco leaf note and backed by a sanguine twinge. Ample singed vanilla and alder accents chime in as well, but they stay in the background while the fruit plays out. Tasted non-blind. Score: 94 - 97 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 01 April 2015
Deep ruby. Expressive with violets and mineral notes, plum and pure cassis. Purity and elegance with a very gentle milk chocolate mouthfeel leading to a long blackforest gateau finish. The tannins are extremely soft and ripe. Harmony, delicacy - this is seriously beautiful. Score: 96 - 98 Albany Vintners, - 24 April 2015
Multi-dimensional. Intense and super-healthy nose. Intense and wonderfully round and fresh. Lifted and frisky. Wonderful undertow. His just-deceased oenologue (since 1962/63) would be delighted with this wine of haute cuisine, racy but round and properly full of complex fruit. Complete. Score: 18 - 19 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2023-2036 15 April 2015

Tasting Notes

The 2014 Vieux-Château Certan has an attractive bouquet with blackberry, clove and truffle aromas, nicely defined though it seems to have closed up a little since I tasted it just after bottling. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and a keen thread of acidity. The palate shows the real potential, more than the nose at the moment. There is wondrous linearity and precision and it finishes with haunting grace. At this tasting I marked this lower than I wanted because it just continuously improved in the glass after I announced my score to the group. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Score: 96

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2022-2050 01 March 2018

The 2014 Vieux Chateau Certan is a blend of 80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, picked in three stages: 19-20 September, 29 September to 2 October, and 7 and 8 October. The yields came in at 38.7 hectoliters per hectare with 13.4% alcohol. It was one of my stars of the vintage and now in bottle, I find no reason to change that. It is endowed with an exquisite bouquet, really one of the best I encountered throughout my tastings: perfumed blackberry, wild strawberry, cold stone and wilted rose petals. Like in barrel, it is not powerful, yet it is blessed with wondrous precision. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity and fine tannin, a slightly masculine VCC due to its linearity and precision. There is tension here from start to finish, a sophisticated and cerebral Pomerol that transcends the growing season. It is a totally different kettle of fish to the 2015 (and doubtless the pre-natal 2016). This is unashamedly classic in style, fanning out towards the mineral-rich finish with great frisson and energy. A cellar without the 2014 Vieux-Château-Certan would be a great pity.

Score: 96

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020-2050 31 March 2017

The Vieux Château Certan 2014 is a blend of 80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Franc, picked in three stages: 19-20 September, 29 September to 2 October and 7 and 8 October. The yields came in at 38.7 hectoliters per hectare with 13.4% alcohol. Noticeably deep and clear in color, the nose takes time to 'rev up' but stick with it because it eventually reveals exquisite pure blackberry and briary scents. It is not a powerful set of aromatics but they are so finely tuned and pretty. The palate is one of the best you will find this vintage: very precise and focused, here the intensity delivered by that Cabernet Franc, complex and cerebral like the best VCC’s. Truffle, blackberry, woodland aromas waft temptingly from the glass and there is the perfect balance of sweetness and reserve to beg another sip. Alexandre and his son, Guillaume Thienpont may have overseen the best wine of the vintage.

Score: 95 - 97

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2018-2035 01 April 2015

The 2014 Vieux Château Certan is glorious stuff that has more personality and sexiness than just about every other wine in the vintage. Kirsch, black cherries, flowers, forest floor and exotic spice characteristics all emerge from this ethereally textured, elegant, beautifully rich 2014 that has notable acidity, sweet tannin, and a great finish. With an almost Burgundian elegance and purity, it’s already drinking nicely, but will be even better in another 3-4 years and keep for two decades.

Score: 97

Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Maturity: 2018-2022 15 February 2018

This is so gorgeous with black truffles, stones and subtle blackberries. Black mushrooms, too. Full-bodied, so dense and deep with very silky tannins and an endless finish. The density of fruit is superb. Truly irresistible. Drink in 2022 but already wonderful to drink.

Score: 97

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 13 February 2017

There’s a purity of fruit in this wine that shows the soil and uniqueness with wet earth, tobacco, mushroom and red fruits. Full and silky with fine tannins and a fresh finish. The 20% cabernet franc makes this wine great. It’s like a wonderfully cut ruby.

Score: 95 - 96

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 27 March 2015

One of the unquestioned stars of the vintage, the 2014 Vieux Château Certan soars out of the glass with aromatic intensity, bright acids and finely sculpted fruit. Cool, intense but very much reserved in the style of the year, the 2014 exudes class. The flavors are intense and vibrant throughout. Dark red and purplish-hued stone fruit, lavender, mint and spice lead into the striking finish. The 2014 is just as impressive today as it was from barrel. As always, Vieux Certan has the rare ability to confer power without excess weight. The 2014 is a magical bottle. Readers who can find it should not hesitate. The blend is back to classic proportions of 80 % Merlot and 20 % Cabernet Franc. (97+ Points)

Score: 97

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2024-2054 01 February 2017

One of the highlights of the vintage, the Vieux Château Certan is a wine of total finesse. Sweet floral notes meld into a core of blue and purplish-hued stone fruits. The tannins are present, but they are noble and barely perceptible. With time in the glass, the floral/savory notes become even more expressive, but it is the wine's textural elegance that truly elevates it. The 2014 finished with bracing freshness and palpable sense of energy. Readers who can find the 2014 should not hesitate, as it is truly superb.(93-96+ Points)

Score: 93 - 96

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com 01 April 2015

Gorgeous, with a core of remarkably pure blackberry, raspberry and black currant fruit wrapped up in a fresh tobacco leaf accent. Everything is carried by silky yet persistent tannins, while the finish lets suave warm stone and singed juniper details fill in. Shows some coiled-up energy, which should make for fun cellaring. Best from 2020 through 2035.

Score: 96

James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2026-2035 11 January 2017

Reserved in terms of aroma, but shows beautiful mouthfeel and depth, with pure cassis, blueberry and plum fruit that glides along, laced with a lively tobacco leaf note and backed by a sanguine twinge. Ample singed vanilla and alder accents chime in as well, but they stay in the background while the fruit plays out. Tasted non-blind.

Score: 94 - 97

James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 01 April 2015

Deep ruby. Expressive with violets and mineral notes, plum and pure cassis. Purity and elegance with a very gentle milk chocolate mouthfeel leading to a long blackforest gateau finish. The tannins are extremely soft and ripe. Harmony, delicacy - this is seriously beautiful.

Score: 96 - 98

Albany Vintners, - 24 April 2015

Multi-dimensional. Intense and super-healthy nose. Intense and wonderfully round and fresh. Lifted and frisky. Wonderful undertow. His just-deceased oenologue (since 1962/63) would be delighted with this wine of haute cuisine, racy but round and properly full of complex fruit. Complete.

Score: 18 - 19

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2023-2036 15 April 2015

Your Lists & Checkout

New Arrivals

Advanced Search

wine regions

quick links

Vieux Chateau Certan 2014

Pomerol

search wines

Full wine List

RSS feeds

wine regions

join our mailing list