Vieux Chateau Certan 2013

robert_parker94

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The Vieux Chateau Certan 2013 is a blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc picked from 30 September until 9th October at 22hl/ha. It has a lovely, pure bouquet with small red cherries, rose petals and mineral that has exquisite delineation, though it does not possess the profundity of a top tier VCC. The palate is precise on the entry, a little pinched perhaps but with aeration it unfurls nicely. There is great tension here: a streamlined VCC that has the precision of a Swiss watch and a sense of tension that Hitchcock would have been proud of. Tasted April 2014.

robert_parker88

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Approximately 1,000 cases of the 2013 Vieux Chateau Certan (versus the normal 4,000 cases) were produced. Alexandre Thienpont told me that yields were 22 hectoliters per hectare, and the final blend was unusual in that it was 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. The alcohol was a surprisingly lofty 13%. While charming, tasty and elegant, this wine does not possess the depth, fat or texture of a great vintage. The tropical September that spawned botrytis throughout Bordeaux vineyards had to be cut out, and the result was a ridiculously small crop that cost a fortune to produce, but will never sell for a high price since it is a good rather than exceptional wine. Drink it over the next 5-7 years.

robert_parker92

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2013 Vieux Château Certan has plentiful fruit on the nose considering the vintage: raspberry coulis, crushed strawberry and a touch of blackcurrant pastilles. The palate is medium-bodied and while it might not rank with the greatest VCC's of recent years in terms of complexity, there is admirable depth and purity with a crisp, almost edgy finish that leaves you wanting another sip. This comes recommended for the vintage and I suspect it will give 12-15 years of drinking pleasure.

vinous90

Reviewed by: Ian d'Agata

(92% merlot and 8% cabernet franc): Bright ruby. Perfumed, very pure aromas of raspberry, blackcurrant and violet. Enters the mouth bright and fresh, with juicy small red and dark berry flavors complicated by hints of iron and cedar. The finish is long and a little austere. Another solid 2013 wine that is only missing the fruit and charm of the better vintages. Interestingly, while many in Bordeaux (Medoc estates included) are starting to increase their use of cabernet franc, even if only by small amounts, at VCC the percentage of this variety seems to be decreasing almost every year.

vinous90

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2013 Vieux Château Certan is another very fine vintage for Alexandre Thienpont, one of the best on the Right Bank. Blackcurrant and raspberry on the nose, not complex but pure and open. The palate is medium-bodied with decent depth, no signs of any greenness and a finish with just the right amount of dryness. This is an earlier drinking VCC but enjoyable.

vinous93

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni

The 2013 Vieux Château Certan is another very fine vintage for Alexandre Thienpont, one of the best on the Right Bank. Blackcurrant and raspberry on the nose, not complex but pure and open. The palate is medium-bodied with decent depth, no signs of any greenness and a finish with just the right amount of dryness. This is an earlier drinking VCC but enjoyable.