Vieux Chateau Certan 2018

Chateau Vieux Chateau Certan 2018 is a wine of remarkable depth and balance, reflecting the exceptional characteristics of the vintage. Its deep crimson hue, displaying rare intensity, captivates the eye, while enticing aromas of ripe fruit and violets waft from the glass. The palate is a testament to the old vines' resilience in the face of drought, yielding wines that are concentrated, vibrant, and harmoniously balanced. The fully ripe Merlot contributes its strength, forming a solid foundation upon which the wine is built. Meanwhile, the Cabernet Franc, present in its entirety, adds a layer of unctuousness, velvet-like texture, and an impressive length of flavor. The seamless blending of these varietals brings forth a wine of pedigree and complexity. With its amazing equilibrium between freshness and ripeness, Chateau Vieux Chateau Certan 2018 shines as a great vintage capable of long-aging. This wine embodies the artistry and finesse that can only be achieved through meticulous winemaking and the expression of the exceptional terroir.

Robert Parker - 99+ Points

"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."

Antonio Galloni - 96 Points

"The 2018 Vieux Château Certan is deeply impressive. It possesses one of the most intense aromatics that I can remember on a nascent VCC, bursting from the glass with intense black cherries, cassis and violets that are even more pronounced than when I first tasted this from barrel. The palate is exuberant, racing out of the blocks with precocious, intense black fruit wrapped up with a silky texture that makes it deceptively easy to drink. You would not pick this out as the subtlest VCC; instead, it is a long-term proposition, a comparatively opulent wine that may ultimately be feted as one of the appellation’s finest wines. Chapeau, Alexandre et Guillaume Thienpont! "