2009 - Vieux Chateau Certan, Pomerol

The 2009's nearly 14% natural alcohol, exquisite ripeness, and incredible complex bouquet of Asian spices, fruitcake, licorice, smoke, blackberries and black currants are to die for. A blend of 84% Merlot and the rest equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, it possesses a viscous texture as well as a freshness and vibrancy that are remarkable given the wine’s weight, richness and potential massiveness. This extraordinary effort is one of the finest Vieux Chateau Certans made over the last sixty years. It will undoubtedly shut down in bottle, requiring a decade or more of cellaring. It should keep for 50 years thereafter. Proprietor Thienpont thinks it is a modern day version of the 1948. As I wrote in my barrel tasting notes, the 2009 ranks alongside four of the legendary vintages of Vieux Chateau Certan’s ancient past, 1945, 1947, 1948 and 1950. It is undoubtedly a cleaner wine than those older vintages, and the selection process under proprietor Alexandre Thienpont was far more severe in 2009 than it would have been sixty years ago.

Rich and deep plum in colour, still with a vibrant reflection. This is right at the top tier of the 2009s, juicy and controlled, capturing appellation typicty in the soft waves of grilled caramel without being sweet or heavy, opens to waves of violet and tomato leaf, sculpted, juicy, delicious.

The 2009 Vieux Château Certan, which has a similar blend to the 1998, was cropped at 40hl/ha. It is fascinating to compare this directly with the preceding vintage. This is ripe and concentrated with black cherries, wild mint and licorice. Typical 2009 Right Bank in style. The palate is medium-bodied with rounded tannins, fleshy with a strong savory element mixed with brown spices. I maintain that this is more a 2009 than a VCC, which is why I am prudent with my score and juxtaposed it against the following vintage: there's only one winner. Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove, Belgium.

Full bottle just 1,284 g. Evolved dark garnet with a shaded rim. Heady, rich, definitively hedonistic Pomerol nose. Such a beautiful blend of ripeness and freshness on the finish. Beautifully polished tannins and restrained, focussed, gorgeously integrated elements with a lovely long finish. Just a hint of Cabernet Franc aroma on the finish. Such a joy! (JR)