Wine Words & Video Tape

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Bordeaux 2014: Vieux Château Certan

Written by JW. Posted in Bordeaux

171Alexandre Thienpont was very happy with the quality of the Cabernet Franc at Vieux Château Certan in 2014 but sees that the success and harmony of the wine is the way it has married with the Merlot, which he describes as being of ‘excellent’ quality. 2014 was not a vintage ‘saved’ by Cabernet Franc, Thienpont believes, and he feels that the varieties have come together extremely well in combination. Certainly ‘VCC’ is deliciously pure and dazzling in 2014.

After a mild and rainy first half of the year, the property reported that flowering was even, helped by ‘glorious’ weather in mid-June. From then on until the last week of August the weather was grey and punctuated with storms, before the Indian summer came.

Prior to harvest some de-leafing was necessary on the west side of some of the rows to help enhance further ripening, this after the second generation of berries had been removed earlier in the growing season. The vintage occurred in three stages, between 19th – 20th September, 29th September to 2nd October and finally on the 7th – 8th October.

The purity shown in the wine is typical of Vieux Château Certan at this stage, but the overall impression is one of harmony, equilibrium and a sense of proportion. The wine was tasted at the property on Friday 3rd April, 2015.

Vieux Château Certan, Pomerol, 2014

Vibrant and healthy colour; beautiful aromas – plum and creamy blackcurrant and black cherry notes; ripe and clean; spices; creamy note to the palate – very harmonious with good fresh acidity; very attractive prospect; proportional and balanced. Probably will fill out more too. Feels very complete and finely crafted. [80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, 1% cabernet Sauvignon, pH3.62 TA3.68, IPT 63 13.4% alc 39 hl/ha Tasted 3rd April ’15. Drink 2022-2030. 94-96+

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