The 2019 Vieux Château Certan is a monumental Pomerol that captures the vintage’s opulence and precision with exceptional grace. A blend of 78% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, it opens with a deeply perfumed nose of cassis, black cherries, violets, and exotic spices, underpinned by earthy minerality and hints of incense and cedar. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, layered, and seamless, offering lush dark fruit, vibrant acidity, and refined, powdery tannins. Its structure is both powerful and silky, culminating in a resonant, elegant finish that promises extraordinary aging potential. 

The Wine Advocate | RP 99+
Published: Mar 31, 2021
Drink: 2027-2057

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.

Wine Enthusiast | WE 99
Published: Apr 1, 2019

Barrel Sample. While the tannins give this wine a firm character, it is the perfumed, ripe Cabernet Franc that is so expressive and gives the wine its structured, complex character. Spice from the wood aging shines through, but the weight of the fruit is impressive and adds elegance. There's long aging potential for this fabulous wine.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 97
Published: Jun 6, 2024

Toasted notes dominate the the nose at first, followed by precise red-fruit character, as well as hints of clove and praline. The attack is lush and rich, creamy and chocolatey, with full body, youthful character, good weight, velvety tannins and crisp acidity. Nicely spicy finish. Impressively well handled for a warm vintage, with thick yet ripe tannins. Best after 2030.

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 18
Published: Mar 27, 2025
Drink: 2028-2040

70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc.
More aromatically open and more herbaceous than the 2015. Juicy plum, raspberry, leather saddle, cedar chest, cocoa and balsamic along with herbal notes of marjoram and mint. This is also a bit plusher than the 2015; the tannins are grainy but don't dominate the palate. Very complex and long and quite elegant.