100 POINTS
Peter Moser - Falstaff
Deep dark ruby in colour with an opaque core, purple reflections, and subtle brightening on the rim. On the nose, intense aromas of ripe blackberry, plum and black cherry fruit, delicate nougat, a touch of fine oak and orange zest, with a floral background. The full-bodied palate is elegant with sturdy yet ripe and silky tannins, good freshness, and great balance with notes of black wild berries and nuances of chocolate, with a spicy, tremendously long finish. Certain ageing potential. (14.4% ABV, 75% Merlot/ 20% Cabernet Franc/ 5% Cabernet Sauvignon).
100 POINTS
Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous
The 2022 Vieux Château Certan is s total stunner. Readers will find a magical wine, a Pomerol that satisfies both the intellectual and hedonistic senses. Vertical and explosive, with stunning presence, the 2022 VCC simply has it all. Time in the glass reveals myriad shades of nuance. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol, licorice and plum literally soar out of the glass. The tannins are present but nearly buried by the wine's deep, layered fruit. But more than anything else, it is the balance, the total sense of harmony, that is most impressive. I simply can’t ask anything more of the 2022, hence its lofty and well-deserved rating. Bravo!
100 POINTS
Neal Martin - Vinous
The 2022 Vieux Château Certan was stellar from barrel. Now, just a week after I retasted the immortal 1947, this latest iteration proves that quality remains as high under Alexandre and Guillaume Thienpont as it did during the golden postwar era under Georges Thienpoint. Boasting an intense bouquet of blackberry, briar, iodine and iris flower, this is one of the most complex and mesmerizing wines in all of Bordeaux this vintage, let alone Pomerol. The palate offers exquisite balance, razor-sharp tannins, real sapidity and a fabulous grainy texture. The Cabernet components are very expressive and lend a completely different dimension to the finish. This is exceptional.
99 POINTS
Jeb Dunnuck - Robert Parker Wine Advocate
One of the wines of the vintage, without a doubt, the 2022 Vieux Château Certan comes from healthy yields of 38 hectoliters per hectare and is 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Jaw-droppingly good in every sense, its deep purple hue is followed by a massive array of black cherries, violets, red plums, chocolate, and violets. This carries to a full-bodied Pomerol with a voluptuously layered mouthfeel, perfect tannins, and a great, great finish. I never find Vieux Château Certan to have the overt power and structure of Petrus, or the feminine elegance of Conseillante, but it's unrivaled in its texture, seamlessness, and purity. If this doesn't put a smile on your face, I don't know what will. And I'll be a buyer.
This is full-bodied with fine tannins that spread out across the palate, a dusty cashmere texture kicking in at the end. So caressing and pleasing, I can’t spit. Drink in 2029 and beyond.
99 POINTS
Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous
The 2022 Vieux Château Certan is a wine of tremendous sophistication and polish. I expected to see a more opulent VCC, but the 2022 is surprisingly delicate and nuanced. The blend is 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, which means all the Cabernets at the château were used in Grand Vin. Perhaps that explains the wine’s construction, favoring length, persistence and aromatics more than size. Crème de cassis, lavender, spice and licorice hints linger on the super-expressive finish. There’s really not much more to say except that the 2022 is magical. “Real heat started in June," explained Alexandre Thienpont. “We had 15mm of rain over two days in mid-August that really helped. Even so, yields were 35 hectoliters per hectare, so lower than 2020. Berries weighed less athan a gram and juice yields were low.” Points: 98-100
98 POINTS
Neal Martin - Vinous
The 2022 Vieux Château Certan has a wonderful bouquet, surprisingly classic in style given the warmth of the growing season, with black fruit laced with Earl Grey and loamy aromas. The oak is supremely well integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins, lightly spiced and quite peppery in style, with a sophisticated, silky-smooth finish. Oh yeah. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.
The freshness and dynamic sense to the wine is so surprising. Minerally and salty. It's full yet racy. Black ink and oyster shell. Excellent length. 25% cabernet franc, 5% cabernet sauvignon and the rest, merlot. Points: 98-99
