Vieux Chateau Certan 2014, Pomerol

Description

Vieux Château Certan is widely recognised as one of the very best wines produced in the Pomerol wine-growing region on Bordeaux’s right bank.

Vieux Chateau Certan, Origins in 1745

The origins of Vieux Château Certan stretch back to 1745 when the Scottish Demay family founded the estate. In 1924, the estate was purchased by Flemish wine merchant Georges Thienpont. It is his grandson, Alexandre, who now runs the estate. As well as the grand vin, there is a second wine produced called La Gravette de Certan.

Vieux Chateau Certan Vineyards

The estate consists of 14 hectares of vineyard planted in one single block. It is comprised of 23 plots, each of them individually managed according to soil type, grape variety planted, and age of vines. The soils are subtly varied and contain a very clayey part planted mainly with Merlot (70%), a gravel-clay part planted with Cabernet Franc (25%) and a very gravelly part planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (5%). The average vine age is 50 years old.

Winemaking

• The grand wine of Vieux Château Certan is made from grapes sourced only from the vineyard’s oldest vines.
• Each vintage is a blend of the most excellent lots produced at the estate.
• Grapes are harvested by hand and carefully sorted at the end of each row of vines.
• After a gentle crushing, the grapes are vinified separately in oak vats by grape variety.
• The wine is aged in 100% new French oak barrels for 18 to 22 months.

2014 Vintage

The 2014 growing season at Vieux Château Certan began with mild, rainy conditions until early June, followed by even flowering in fine weather, a stormy summer, and a glorious Indian summer from late August through harvest, aided by careful canopy management and de-leafing. This produced excellent Cabernet Franc, adding delicacy, length, breed, and flamboyance, alongside rich, perfumed, round Merlot that brought liveliness and pleasantness, resulting in a charming, delicious wine balanced between freshness and roundness, fruit character and flavorful length.

The 2014 is a blend of 80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon.