2012 - Vieux Chateau Certan, Pomerol

The 2012 Vieux Chateau Certan is medium to deep garnet-purple colored. It charges out with impressively pure, laser-precise, and intense scents of blueberry compote, chocolate-covered cherries, and warm plum, plus hints of cinnamon toast, dried roses, and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, rich, and oh-so-classy in the mouth, the palate delivers velvety tannins and compelling tension, finishing very long and opulent. The blend this year is 87% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon.

White pepper, mint leaf, capsicum, espresso, violet, peony, easy to love, this has more open and supple tannins than the 2010, clearly more ready to move into its drinking window. 33hl/h yield, harvest October 1 to 11. 50% new oak.

Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux tasting. The 2012 Vieux Château Certan has a potent, smoke, cooked meat, Cabernet Franc-scented bouquet that is beautifully defined—quintessentially Pomerol. You want typicité? Come right here. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, quite gentle as it sashays across the mouth. The acidity is very well judged and leads to an elegant tobacco tinged finish. Alexandre and Guillaume Thienpont have produced one of the finest wines of the Right Bank in 2012, one that is up there with the greats. Tasted January 2016.

The 2012 Vieux Château Certan comes from a late harvest picked from October 1. The Cabernet is potent on the nose, not dissimilar to the 2008 with Montecristo cigars and undergrowth infusing the black fruit. Certainly, this is pretty Left Bank in style. The palate is well-balanced with a slightly herbaceous, peppery entry. Espresso notes infuse the black fruit with a structured finish. I just feel the oak a little here and find more composure on the 2011 by direct comparison. Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove, Belgium.

87% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. Vintage described as ‘typical’. Picked from 1 October to 11 October ‘just hours before heavy rains set in’. Alexandre was very keen to know whether the herbaceous nose was too much. We said no! Deep crimson. Leafy nose – quite distinctive. Juicy fruit that very suave but not one of the most concentrated. Very nicely balanced and with very ripe tannins and backbone. A great drink now. But no hurry. Juicy fruit. Neat and complete. Firm. Hint of bitter dark chocolate. (JR)