2021 Vieux Chateau Certan - Pomerol AC

Decanter.com - 96 pts - GH: *Ripe juicy strawberry, this has a gorgeous intensity on the nose, really fragrant and expressive, in a rich deep, heavily-scented way. You get the ripeness here with smooth, silky tannins giving depth and intensity on the palate. Succulent with a sharpness, that hit of freshLy picked strawberry and cherry juice - electric and bright with tension and direction. It’s softly spoken in one way, so quietly confident, yet showing so much detail in another, saying; 'looking at how charming I can be'. It has freshness and tension - ‘a cool climate VCC’ said Alexandre Thienpont. Bright acidity through delivered gracefully and sensitively with a gentle persistence. I love the delicacy, it has body no doubt, but it’s the detail that’s so captivating. A wonderful wine and one of the best from Pomerol in 2021.* - 04/2022

Falstaff Magazin – 96 pts – PM: * Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Dunkelbeerig im Duft, sehr klar, sehr reif. Florale Noten, Baumharz. Im Mund seidig und füllig, weich grundiert, mürb-körniges Tannin ohne Grüntöne, sehr dicht, dennoch mild wirkend, viel Saftigkeit, große Homogenität und Länge, feinfruchtig begleitet. Ein makellos reif gelesener Charmeur mit Tiefe und unglaublicher Eleganz.*

The Wine Advocate – (94-96) pts – WK: *A blend of 77% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 Vieux Château Certan wafts from the glass with lovely aromas of violets, rose petals, sweet wild berries, exotic spices, orange rind and smoke. Medium to full-bodied, supple and enveloping, it's an elegant, fleshy wine with a bright core of fruit, ultra-refined tannins and a precise, saline finish. Despite its almost Burgundian finesse, this Pomerol's remarkably penetrating, perfumed finish gives the lie to any notion that it's in any way lacking in intensity of flavor. As is almost invariably the case, Vieux Château Certan is one of the finest wines of the appellation this year.*

Vinum Magazin – 19/20 pts: *Sehr stiltreuer VCC, präzise gezeichnet, mit betörendem aromatischen Potential, schlank, Tannin mit Schliff, subtile Eleganz trotz der Dichte: einmalig, stilvoll, herrlich.*

WeinWisser – 19/20pts – GL, TW: *77 % Merlot, 20 % CF, 3 % Cabernet Sauvignon, pH 3.63, 13,2 Vol.-%, 38 hl/ha. Betörendes Bouquet, frischgepflückte schwarze Johannisbeere, Heidelbeergelee und Holundersaft, dahinter betörendes Veilchenparfüm, zarte Milchschokolade und rote Johannisbeerdrops. Am subtilen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, magischer Rasse, unglaublicher Präzision, stützendem Graphit und trainiertem Körper. Im konzentrierten Finale mit einem energiegeladenen Zug, dynamisch, schwarzbeerige Konturen, Himbeermark und erhabene Adstringenz. Einer der Besten am Rechten Ufer. Der Jahrgang wird von Alexandré mit «aromatic, fresh & flavoursome», beschrieben.* – 04/2022

JancisRobinson.com – 17,5/20pts – JL: *77% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. 38 hl/ha. Cask sample. Rich, racy and aromatic with floral notes to the fore. Old-vine intensity, something not always evident this year. Smooth, elegant texture with fine, persistent tannins. Sweetness to the fruit on attack then fresh and driven on the finish. Good potential.* - 04/2022

JamesSuckling.com – (96-97) pts - JS: *Medium to full body with a supple, textured and firm tannin structure. Velvety and perfumed with fragrant notes of flowers, cloves, plums and raspberries. Broad and layered. Very supple and evolving. Opens on the palate. 77% merlot, 20% cabernet franc and 3% cabernet sauvignon.*

Vinous.com – (96-98) pts – AG: *The 2021 Vieux Château Certan is a spectacular tour de force from Alexander and Guillaume Thienpont. What a wine. Vibrant and magnificent in its precision, the 2021 races across the palate, revealing seemingly endless layers of nuance over time. Dark blue/purplish fruit, cinnamon, new leather, graphite, lavender and crushed rocks all build effortlessly. The Cabernets are dialed up in 2021 and that comes through in the wine's flavor profile and overall feel. The purity of the flavors is just mind-bending. Harvest took place etween September 25 and October 4. The blend is 67% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. Readers who can find the 2021 should not hesitate, as it is truly magical.*

Vinous.com – (95-97) pts – NM: * The 2021 Vieux Château Certan was picked from September 24 to October 6 at 38hL/ha and registers 13.2% alcohol. It is a VCC defined by its Cabernets; Guillaume Thienpont told me ]they used all they had. "I would have blended more if we had more vines," he quipped. The nose unfurls with air to reveal graphite infused black fruit, touches of undergrowth and tobacco – quintessential VCC aromatics. The palate is beautifully balanced with exquisite definition, not powerful and certainly not opulent, yet built around finesse, precision and charm. It seems to grow in stature in the glass. Pure class.*

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (94-96) pts – JL: *Dark ruby in color, the perfume kicks off with lilacs, violets, graphite, nutmeg, spice, plums and black cherry nuances. On the palate, the wine is fresh, vibrant, crisp, chewy and long. The salty touch of minerality in the endnote adds to all the sweet, dark red pit fruits. Refined, elegant and classic, (but in a good way) there is length, purity, tension and energy in the finish, with just a hint of spice too. The wine blends 77% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.2% ABV. The harvest took place September 24-September - October 6. Yields were 38 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2026-2049.*