Vieux Château Certan 2016

Robert Parker Wine Advocate:

The 2016 Vieux Château Certan is blended of 85% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, it leaps from the glass with pristine, vivid notions of candied violets, chocolate-covered cherries, blackberry compote and mulberries with fragrant touches of raspberry leaves, crushed rocks, licorice, cumin seed and yeast extract plus a waft of red roses. Medium to full-bodied and beautifully elegant, the palate builds from a quiet intensity to an incredibly well-sustained aria of crunchy red and black cherries notes plus tons of floral undertones, framed by exquisitely soft yet firm tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long with lingering mineral and floral sparks. How does this 2016 compare to the also amazing 2015 vintage? Stylistically they are very different, as my notes on each should convey, but beyond this I am struck by the incredible harmony and seamlessness of the 2016 along with its amazing depth and energy this year. Bravo! Drink Date 2021-2070. Rating 100/100. -Lisa Perrotti-Brown-

Vinous:

I have been fortunate to follow the 2016 Vieux Château Certan almost from the beginning, starting with a tasting of several lots from barrel in early January 2017, in which Alexandre and Guillaume Thienpont showed me the wines in a sequence arranged by the year of planting of various parcels. Even then, it was clear, the 2016 had the potential to be a majestic wine. Now, from bottle, it is every bit as captivating as early tastings suggested it would be. Sweet red/purplish berry fruit, lavender, rose petal and spice infuse this exquisitely beautiful, layered Pomerol. Alexandre Thienpont adds that the harvest was saved by September rains that gave the parched vines just enough water to restore some of the balance that had been lost earlier in the season. Put simply, the 2016 VCC has it all. Drink Date 2026-2066. Rating 100/100. -Antonio Galloni-

Jancis Robinson:

85% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. ‘A year of climatic contrasts. A mild winter followed by a rainy spring, restored the water reserves, enabling the vines to cope well with sunny and very hot weather until late in the growing season. Thanks to a few rare days of fine weather in mid-June, the flowering was quick and even and predicted a good crop size (40 hl/h). Excellent grape health meant that harvesting dates could be delayed. The vines benefitted from a few rain showers which enhanced ripening.’
Intense and glamorous, like a firework display on the nose. Sweet and ripe and – dare I say it? – almost Napa, from one of the finest exponents, who also manages to combine freshness! Quite obvious alcohol and masses of pure pleasure. Already approachable but more refreshing than the 2015. Rating 19/20. -Jancis Robinson-

James Suckling:

Smoke, tar, earth, fruit and tobacco aromas. The wine is youthful, medium- to full-bodied, with expansive, polished tannins, good concentration and a long, persistent finish. It shows power and restraint, with volume, delicacy and an inherent structure. While enjoyable, this is still youthful and will benefit from additional cellaring. Drink or hold. 10 Years On retrospective. Rating 100/100. -JamesSuckling.com, Jacobo García Andrade,Senior Editor-   

falstaff.com: 

Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, feine Edelholzwürze, reife Herzkirschen, Brombeergelée, zarte Nuancen von Gewürze. Kraftvoll, komplex, intensive Frucht, gute Frische, extraktsüß aber keine Spur von Überreife, perfekte Tannine, feiner Nougatabgang, bleibt minutenlang haften, tolles Zukunftspotenzial, Vin de Garde. Bewertung 100/100. -falstaff.com, Peter Moser-  

WineEnthusiast.com:

This big, rich wine has perfumed Cabernet Franc flavors to give shape to the dominant Merlot. It is a well-structured wine, elegant and with juicy acidity. It displays power and concentration along with restraint and style. Drink this wine from 2024. Rating 98/100. -WineEnthusiast, Roger Voss-