2018 Vieux Château Certan - Angry Wine Merchant 2018 Vieux Château Certan - Angry Wine Merchant
2018 Vieux Château Certan - Angry Wine Merchant
2018 Vieux Château Certan - Angry Wine Merchant

2018 Vieux Chateau Certan

Red Bordeaux Blend

France / Bordeaux / Libournais / Pomerol

$425
JD 99
RP 99
V 97
Size:
Quantity:

Availability: 5

2018 Vieux Chateau Certan, Pomerol, France

An amazing vintage!

From winter to spring, the first half of 2018 was marked by mild temperatures and very heavy rainfall. At the end of May, after optimal flowering, a glorious hot and dry summer set in for a long period. The water reserves that had built up over the spring enabled the vines to cope well with the severe water stress that followed in the summer.  

2018 vieux chateau certan    

The old vines, their vigour favourably slowed by this drought, produced wonderfully deep-coloured, concentrated and balanced wines. The fully ripe Merlot brought all its strength to the wine and ensured a stable base at the time of blending. The Cabernet Franc, present in its totality this year, enhanced the blend through its unctuous, velvety texture and excellent length of flavour. It contributed pedigree and complexity.

2018 Vieux Château Certan exhibits a deep crimson hue of rare intensity, beautiful aromas of ripe fruit and violets. Its amazing balance between freshness and ripeness enable all the qualities of a great long-ageing vintage to shine through.

Technical data

Crop thinning and de-leafing from July 16th to 25th, and from August 1st to 9th 2018 respectively.
Harvesting in three stages September 19th, then September 24th to 26th and finally from October 1st to 9th 2018.
Yield 40 hectolitres per hectare.
Blend 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc.
Alcoholic degree 14,5 %/vol.
Bottling from June 8th to June 16th 2020.

"The first bottles of this vintage may be enjoyed in the eight to ten years while the rest can be kept a further twenty years or more."

JD 99

Jeb Dunnuck

The flagship 2018 Vieux Château Certan is based on 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc and was brought up in (I suspect) roughly 50% new French oak. It tips the scale at 14.5% natural alcohol, which is the same as the 2010 (slightly higher than the 2009) and has a pH of 3.78, which is also very close to the 2010. This rock star of a Pomerol offers a kaleidoscopic array of red, black, and blue fruits, white truffle, spring flowers, tobacco, and crushed rock-like minerality on the nose. It has perfectly integrated oak, gorgeous concentration, building yet ultra-fine tannins, and not a hard edge to be found. I was able to follow this bottle for multiple days, and the large Cabernet Franc component became more and dominant, yet it never truly shut down and was always a joy to drink. Nevertheless, a good 7-8 years of bottle age are warranted, and it should evolve for 30-40 years in cold cellars. Again, the Thienpont family produces a heavenly wine that wine lovers should all have in their cellar. Along with Petrus, Conseillante, Lafleur, and a handful of others, it's one of the appellation's most singular wines. Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck. Tasting date: March 11, 2021. Drinking window: 2028-2058.
RP 99

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

(Rating 99+) The 2018 Vieux Château Certan is composed of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, weighing in with 14.4% alcohol and an IPT (total polyphenol index) of 77. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the nose is locked down tight at this youthful stage, requiring a lot of patient swirling to release a profound powerhouse of a perfume: preserved plums, blueberry compote, ripe black cherries and boysenberries, leading to suggestions of Indian spices, lilacs, espresso and licorice, plus a waft of sandalwood. The medium to full-bodied palate has an amazing sense of cohesiveness. There are no edges to the seamless flow of exquisitely fine-grained tannins and perfectly knit acidity, beautifully framing the blue and black fruits, which are at once elegant and also so, so rich. It finishes with many slowly lapping waves of minerals and exotic spices, which just go on and on. It is a wine that is, simply put, an experience not to be missed. Give it a good 6-8 years in the cellar and drink it over the next 30 years or more. Reviewed by Lisa Perrotti-Brown. Issue date: March 31, 2021. Drinking window: 2027-2057
V 97

Vinous

(Rating 97+)The 2018 Vieux Château Certan is delicate, silky and understated, just as it was in barrel. Inky blue/purplish berry fruit, mint, lavender, spice and wild flowers all open in the glass. The 30% Cabernet Franc, which is high for present-day standards, adds tons of aromatic lift as well as freshness, while bright, saline-infused notes extend the finish. Fine tannins and mid-weight structure give the 2018 an air of finesse that is impossible to miss. If I had to bet on one 2018 that could very well surprise 10-20 years out, it might very well be VCC.

Antonio Galloni. Tasting date: March 2021. Drinking window: 2026 - 2058.

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  • CRITICAL REVIEWS
  • WINEMAKER NOTES
JD 99

Jeb Dunnuck

The flagship 2018 Vieux Château Certan is based on 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc and was brought up in (I suspect) roughly 50% new French oak. It tips the scale at 14.5% natural alcohol, which is the same as the 2010 (slightly higher than the 2009) and has a pH of 3.78, which is also very close to the 2010. This rock star of a Pomerol offers a kaleidoscopic array of red, black, and blue fruits, white truffle, spring flowers, tobacco, and crushed rock-like minerality on the nose. It has perfectly integrated oak, gorgeous concentration, building yet ultra-fine tannins, and not a hard edge to be found. I was able to follow this bottle for multiple days, and the large Cabernet Franc component became more and dominant, yet it never truly shut down and was always a joy to drink. Nevertheless, a good 7-8 years of bottle age are warranted, and it should evolve for 30-40 years in cold cellars. Again, the Thienpont family produces a heavenly wine that wine lovers should all have in their cellar. Along with Petrus, Conseillante, Lafleur, and a handful of others, it's one of the appellation's most singular wines. Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck. Tasting date: March 11, 2021. Drinking window: 2028-2058.
RP 99

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

(Rating 99+) The 2018 Vieux Château Certan is composed of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, weighing in with 14.4% alcohol and an IPT (total polyphenol index) of 77. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the nose is locked down tight at this youthful stage, requiring a lot of patient swirling to release a profound powerhouse of a perfume: preserved plums, blueberry compote, ripe black cherries and boysenberries, leading to suggestions of Indian spices, lilacs, espresso and licorice, plus a waft of sandalwood. The medium to full-bodied palate has an amazing sense of cohesiveness. There are no edges to the seamless flow of exquisitely fine-grained tannins and perfectly knit acidity, beautifully framing the blue and black fruits, which are at once elegant and also so, so rich. It finishes with many slowly lapping waves of minerals and exotic spices, which just go on and on. It is a wine that is, simply put, an experience not to be missed. Give it a good 6-8 years in the cellar and drink it over the next 30 years or more. Reviewed by Lisa Perrotti-Brown. Issue date: March 31, 2021. Drinking window: 2027-2057
V 97

Vinous

(Rating 97+)The 2018 Vieux Château Certan is delicate, silky and understated, just as it was in barrel. Inky blue/purplish berry fruit, mint, lavender, spice and wild flowers all open in the glass. The 30% Cabernet Franc, which is high for present-day standards, adds tons of aromatic lift as well as freshness, while bright, saline-infused notes extend the finish. Fine tannins and mid-weight structure give the 2018 an air of finesse that is impossible to miss. If I had to bet on one 2018 that could very well surprise 10-20 years out, it might very well be VCC.

Antonio Galloni. Tasting date: March 2021. Drinking window: 2026 - 2058.

2018 Vieux Chateau Certan, Pomerol, France

An amazing vintage!

From winter to spring, the first half of 2018 was marked by mild temperatures and very heavy rainfall. At the end of May, after optimal flowering, a glorious hot and dry summer set in for a long period. The water reserves that had built up over the spring enabled the vines to cope well with the severe water stress that followed in the summer.  

2018 vieux chateau certan    

The old vines, their vigour favourably slowed by this drought, produced wonderfully deep-coloured, concentrated and balanced wines. The fully ripe Merlot brought all its strength to the wine and ensured a stable base at the time of blending. The Cabernet Franc, present in its totality this year, enhanced the blend through its unctuous, velvety texture and excellent length of flavour. It contributed pedigree and complexity.

2018 Vieux Château Certan exhibits a deep crimson hue of rare intensity, beautiful aromas of ripe fruit and violets. Its amazing balance between freshness and ripeness enable all the qualities of a great long-ageing vintage to shine through.

Technical data

Crop thinning and de-leafing from July 16th to 25th, and from August 1st to 9th 2018 respectively.
Harvesting in three stages September 19th, then September 24th to 26th and finally from October 1st to 9th 2018.
Yield 40 hectolitres per hectare.
Blend 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc.
Alcoholic degree 14,5 %/vol.
Bottling from June 8th to June 16th 2020.

"The first bottles of this vintage may be enjoyed in the eight to ten years while the rest can be kept a further twenty years or more."

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