The 2014 Vieux Château Certan is a refined, classical expression of Pomerol, marked by vibrancy, precision, and enduring structure. With a blend dominated by Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the wine opens with a captivating bouquet of violets, cassis, balsamic herbs, and wild strawberries, complemented by earthy and mineral nuances. On the palate, it shows medium to full body with silk-textured tannins and lifted acidity, delivering poise and understated power. Still youthful, it balances ripe fruit and fresh energy with a mineral backbone and long, tense finish. A cerebral and elegant wine, built for graceful aging.

Decanter | D 98
Published: Bordeaux 2014 revisited 10 years on
Drink: 2024-2044

Fragrant and expressive on the nose, beguiling and totally inviting. Smooth, supple, energetic, lively and with understated power. This is great, full of life and charm, not the biggest or weightiest but this is carrying its flavour so well and still has plenty of structure and well-integrated tannins. Feels more youthful than many others in the tasting, vibrant almost. A clear stand out with ripe fruit, fresh acidities, a mineral undertone and grip and hold to the tannins. Love it. Still not a big wine, but this is finessed and characterful.
Closure: Cork
Body: Full
Oak: Oaked

Jamessuckling.com | JS 97
Published: Jun 06, 2024

Eucalyptus leaf and licorice, coffee grounds, balsamic tones, milk and mint, vibrant cassis and restrained chocolate. The attack is silky and elegant with more moderate extraction and lifted acidity, providing a vibrant, medium- to full-bodied palate and a long, dark aftertaste. Tight, almost austere finish, but tense and polished. Drink or hold.

The Wine Advocate | RP 96
Published: Mar 31, 2017
Drink: 2020-2050

The 2014 Vieux Chateau Certan is a blend of 80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 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. It was one of my stars of the vintage and now in bottle, I find no reason to change that. It is endowed with an exquisite bouquet, really one of the best I encountered throughout my tastings: perfumed blackberry, wild strawberry, cold stone and wilted rose petals. Like in barrel, it is not powerful, yet it is blessed with wondrous precision. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity and fine tannin, a slightly masculine VCC due to its linearity and precision. There is tension here from start to finish, a sophisticated and cerebral Pomerol that transcends the growing season. It is a totally different kettle of fish to the 2015 (and doubtless the pre-natal 2016). This is unashamedly classic in style, fanning out towards the mineral-rich finish with great frisson and energy. A cellar without the 2014 Vieux-Château-Certan would be a great pity.

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 17.5++
Published: Jun 6, 2024
Drink: 2028-2050

70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc. Mild and wet start to the season, then fine weather mid June allowing even flowering. Scattered stormy periods, then ‘consistent summer sunshine from the end of August until the harvest … De-leafing was necessary on the west side of the rows in order to enhance ripening one week before harvest.’
Deep crimson with some maturity at the rim. Fragrant, attractive nose but quite sturdy, chewy tannins at the moment. Still youthful with quite a bite. More marked acidity than some. But unformed.