Vieux Château Certan - Pomerol 1999

Wine Advocate

91 / 100

par Robert Parker le 30/04/2002

This 1999 is deep ruby/purple-colored, with a striking perfume of black cherries, truffles, cedar, and vanilla. This layered, opulently-textured wine displays extraordinary purity, elegance, and finesse. It is a classic Bordeaux with superb palate presence that builds incrementally on the palate. The finish is long, with plenty of sweet tannin. Very impressive! Three thousand cases of the 1999 were made from a blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Last year it seemed to reveal an element of dilution, but as always, the truth is in the bottle, and presently there is no evidence of lightness or liquidity. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2018.

Wine Spectator

91 / 100

par James Suckling le 31/03/2002

Refined red. Lots of Indian spices on the nose, with lovely berry and plum character. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and plenty of racy fruit. A reserved, fine wine. Best after 2004. 3,300 cases made.

Wine Advocate

88-89 / 100

par Robert Parker le 30/04/2001

A very good effort for the vintage, this elegant, medium to full-bodied, dark ruby/purple-colored wine exhibits aromas and flavors of blackberries, cherries, minerals, herbs, and earth. There is plenty of tannin and fruit in the finish, as well as a suggestion of dilution. It comes across more like a Medoc than a typical Pomerol, no doubt because of the high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc in the blend. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025.

Wine Advocate

89-91 / 100

par Robert Parker le 30/04/2000

An outstanding success for Vieux-Chateau-Certan, the 1999, while not a blockbuster, is a notable success for the vintage. A blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, this dense ruby/purple-colored effort reveals classy, complex, cedar, fruit cake, and black fruit aromas in the multi-dimensional aromatics, deep, rich, medium to full-bodied flavors, sweet tannin, low acidity, and a long finish. With good size, weight, and richness, in addition to terrific purity and overall symmetry, it will drink well between 2005-2020.