VIEUX CHÂTEAU CERTAN

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. Drinking range: 2024 - 2054 Rating: 97 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Feb 2017)

Classic blend of 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet. Real personality. Elegant, perfumed nose with blueberry, violet and chocolate notes. Refined tannins provide a velvety texture as well as persistence and length. Lovely fruit, fine structure. Vibrant, fresh finish. (Outstanding Pomerol, Decanter.) Drinking range: 2022 - 2040 Rating: 95 James Lawther MW, decanter.com (May 2015)

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. Rating: 93 - 96+ Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2015)

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. Drinking range: 2018 - 2035 Rating: 95-97 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 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. Drinking range: 2023 - 2036 Rating: 18.5 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2015)

Fragrant floral the nose has charm the palate a mix of black fruits layers of flavours freshness yet richness. Ripe fruit enriches the mid palate fleshy and supple but it is lighter at the back with black cherry underpinned by bramble the finish long and elegant. Drinking range: 2022 - 2040 Rating: 91-95 Derek Smedley MW, www.dereksmedleymw.co.uk (Apr 2015)

"Very happy given what it could have been," is owner Alexandre Thienpont's modest comment on his own wine. Silky, refined and elegant, this is fresh and very aromatic, with fine tannins that build on the palate. Very Pomerol, but above all very VCC, it's grassy, complex and well balanced. (One of Tim's Top 10 Right Bank Reds.) Drinking range: 2020 - 2032 Rating: 95 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (Apr 2015)

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. Rating: 95-96 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Mar 2015)