Vieux Château Certan - Pomerol 2010

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

96 / 100

the8/31/2013

Good deep ruby. Spicy aromas of blueberry, licorice, minerals, flowers and bitter chocolate. Sweet, suave and deep, with lovely lift to the complex cabernet franc-driven violet, cocoa and white pepper flavors. Firmly structured and long on the refined, youthfully chewy, tannic finish. This 2010 will really need at least a few years to expand, but will probably always remain a more austere wine than the 2009. I think will also prove to be a very ageworthy VCC. 96(+?) points

Wine Spectator

98 / 100

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2013

A stunner, this marries structured tobacco, ganache and loam notes to a glorious core of raspberry, blackberry and plum coulis flavors, accented by coffee, roasted mesquite and black tea aromatics. A terrific minerality courses throughout, with the finish letting power and refinement play out almost endlessly. Best from 2017 through 2040.—J.M.

Wine Advocate

99 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe3/1/2013

What an amazing duo of wines from proprietor Alexandre Thienpont, who thinks his second wine, the La Gravette de Certan, is better in 2010 than many of the vintages of Vieux Chateau Certan produced in the 1970s - and I agree. It is a complex, relatively evolved style of wine that represents one-third of the production in 2010. An equal-part blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, it has a deep purple color and a wonderfully sweet nose of raspberries, black cherries, mulberries, licorice and foresty notes. Full-bodied and evolved, this wine has gorgeous texture and remarkable opulence. It can be drunk now or cellared for 10-15 years.

Thienpont thinks he has produced three wines - 2008, 2009 and 2010 - that are the greatest trilogy in the history of Vieux Chateau Certan, rivaling what this estate did in 1947, 1948 and 1949.

Wine Advocate

96 / 100

byNeal Martinthe2/15/2013

The 2010 was, as Alexandre mentioned, a “merlot” year and there is 25% less Cabernet Franc in the blend. If I am being truly honest (and that has got me into a lot of trouble this year) I am missing that component on the nose. For sure, it has wonderful purity and focus, subtle raspberry and cranberry notes that are incredibly well defined, but I just miss that edginess that the Cabernet Franc imparts. Still, I cannot deny there is superb minerality here. The palate is quite broody on the entry: good density, a little softer than I expected, but with lovely spicy notes intertwined in the black, slightly tarry fruit. It is a little “gawky” after bottling so it will gain more harmony and composure. The finish is masculine, typical of the vintage, with a long tertiary aftertaste. Very fine...of course. Tasted November 2012.

Jamessuckling.com

100 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2013

A perfect wine with perfect purity of fruit. It shows gorgeous aromas of blackberries, currants and cedar with hints of chocolate. Full body, with a lovely sweetness of fruit and ripe tannins. It goes to chocolate, hazelnut and spices. Nutmeg too. Sexy and incredible. It has so much depth of fruit and density. Better in 2020

Wine Advocate

96-98 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/31/2011

2010: Alexandre Thienpont thinks 2010 is even more powerful and tannic than 2009. This is certainly a big wine, dominated by its Merlot component (86%, with the rest mostly Cabernet Franc). The natural alcohol level is 14.5%, slightly above 2009, but the pH is a healthy 3.7, and the wine, like so many 2010s, is a paradox. The alcohols are often the highest ever yet the acidities are fresh and lively, and the wine crisp and refined. This is a deep purple-colored wine, with loads of opulence and fat, a voluptuous texture and tremendous purity. The style is a modern-day version of what they probably achieved in 1947, 1949 and 1950. Thienpont attributes the wine’s freshness to the lack of any real heat wave, the drought, and the very cool nights in September. This wine should drink well for 20-40 years. Drink 2011-2051

Asian Palate

96-97 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe5/24/2011

The 2010 Vieux Chateau Certan has notes of ripe plums, blackberries, cedar and spices, and amazing concentration and depth on the palate, with a gorgeous array of dark berry fruit characters. Owner Alexander Thienpont says that the 2010 enjoyed maximum photosynthesis and the grapes had both phenolic ripeness and fresh acidity. This is a gorgeous, rich and intricately-layered wine with great freshness and beautifully handled velvety tannins.

Le Point

19 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/12/2011

Violette, fruits noirs, cerise burlat, bouche fine, élégante, bien tendue, fine, tanins croquants, velouté très beau milieu de bouche, délicat, très persistant, fin, gourmand et long. O=2019 G=20 ans

Decanter Magazine

19 / 20

byJames Lawther MWthe4/30/2011

More or less the same parcels and blend as '09 (86% Merlot, 14% Cabernet) but a different style. Less opulent and more classically defined. Lovely 'natural' fruit, huge concentration, more alcohol (14.5%), long, powerful tannins and the freshness that marks the vintage. A harmonious whole. Huge potential. Drink 2020-2060. (19 points)

TAST

19 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2011

L’un des plus beaux certans de la décennie : le vin développe un volume brillant, d’une folle énergie et d’une intensité raffinée et subtile, se matérialisant en particulier par une persistance arômatique en bouche sur les petits fruits rouges. Du volume, de l’ampleur, du parfum.

Jamessuckling.com

100 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/30/2011

This is off the charts. I am blown away. This is so concentrated yet perfect. With chocolate, blackberry, coffee. Full and amazing in density and balanced. The grapes were tiny and the production was tiny. I am speechless. This may match the legendary 1947 or 1945

Wine Spectator

96-99 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/30/2011

Super broad and muscular, with lots of dark fig, currant and chocolate notes. A smoky tobacco edge on the back end is starting to emerge, and this begins to gush linzer torte and cassis with air. A very big wine. One of the stars of the appellation in 2010. 86 percent Merlot, 8 percent Cabernet Franc and 6 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, almost the same as 2009. Tasted non-blind. —J.M.

The Wine Cellar Insider

99-100 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/25/2011

Vieux Chateau Certan The chateau produces wine in vintages that favor Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, or Merlot. 2010 as well as 2009 are vintages where the Merlot clearly excelled and became the preponderance of the blend. The assemblage in this vintage is 86%Merlot, 8% Cab Franc 6% Cab Sauvignon. This is even more dominated by Merlot than the 2009, which came in at 84% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc. Shaped by low yields and high alcohol, the wine clocked in at 14.5% alcohol. The IPT levels are equally high at 90. As a point of reference, this level of IPT recorded in 2010 is the same as the chateau recorded in their press wine a decade ago. . 2010 Vieux Chateau Certan resembles dark, purple ink. Exotic liqueur aromas, plums, truffle, flowers, chocolate and spice aromas are found with little effort. The mouth filling wine paints your palate with sexy, ripe, liquid silk sensations. Spice, rich black licorice, pure plum and blackberry flavors coat your taste receptors. The long, seamless, intense, pure finish was too good to spit. When Alexandre was not looking, I put the wine where it belonged, twice! Sadly, this will not be cheap. However, if you’re seeking a historic Pomerol legend in the making, this is the wine to buy. 99-100 Pts

Jean-Marc QUARIN

18,75 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/11/2011

Ma meilleure note donnée à ce cru en primeur
Couleur rouge sombre. Grand nez subtil, frais, fin. Nuances profondes avec des notes de goudron rarement vues à cet âge dans cette propriété. Superbe entrée en bouche grasse, avec de suite beaucoup de goût. Le vin se développe fondant et particulièrement aromatique, avec une réelle grâce. Saveurs très distinguées, très Vieux Château Certan. Vin impossible à cracher de même niveau que le 2009.