Vieux Chateau Certan 2023 (1.5L)

96 Points, Neal Martin, Vinous: "The 2023 Vieux Château Certan, which contains no Cabernet Sauvignon, has a sublime bouquet, beautifully defined, with blackberry, blueberry, graphite and light marine scents in the background. Very focused. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins that lend this VCC structure. Quite "cool" in style, a healthy dash of cracked black pepper furnishes the prolonged finish, where the 18% Cabernet Franc is very expressive. To quote Alexandre Thienpont, very "restrained" in the most positive sense of that word." 02/26

96-98 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: “The 2023 Vieux Château Certan is like a drug. Its exotic aromatics, deeply layered fruit and sublime textures are just captivating. I tasted the 2023 from an assembled base blend and four core components. Every wine was nothing short of breathtaking. When I think of the archetypes of greatness in Bordeaux, VCC is one of them. The 2023 is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Like all producers, Alexandre and Guillaume were forced to decide whether to pick their Cabernets before or after the September rains. As it turned out, none of the lots picked before the rain made it into the Grand Vin. Only those picked later were deemed of high enough quality.” 4/24

96-98 Points, Jeb Dunnuck: “Not harvested until after the rains in the middle of September, the 2023 Vieux Château Certan is based on 82% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in roughly 60% new oak. It's another ripe, medium to full-bodied, aristocratic, beautifully textured Pomerol that has ample black cherry, mulberry, chocolate, and tobacco-like aromatics, medium to full-bodied richness, flawless overall balance, and ripe tannins, as well as a certain salinity on the finish. Checking in at 14% alcohol and a pH of 3.74, it should surpass the 2014 and is a beautiful, elegant, classic wine that every reader would love to have in their cellar.” 4/24

97-99+ Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent: “A blend of 82% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Franc, Vieux Chateau Certan 2023 has a pH of 3.74 and it is deep garnet-purple in color. Notes of fresh blackberries, juicy plums, and black cherries slowly emerge from the glass, opening out to fragrant notes of violets, star anise, and black truffles, followed by wafts of wood smoke and cardamom. The medium-bodied palate is taut and muscular with firm, rounded tannins and seamless acidity, finishing with many, many layers of earth, spice, and floral notes. This is pure latent power.” 4/24

100 Points, James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com: "Perfect aromas of ripe, pristine blueberries, subtle black olives, raspberries, violets, minerals, lavender and sandalwood. The finesse, depth and grace are mesmerizing. It's medium-bodied with incredible energy and length. A masterpiece in subtly. Can't get better than this. 82% merlot and 18% cabernet franc. Lovely to drink now, but it will age beautifully. Wait until 2030." 12/25