Decanted 1hr. Intense perfumed nose, violets, meaty savouriness, almonds, black bramble fruits and some salinity. Exceptional - so VCC. Palate has light medium, very fine tannins, fresh acidity - perhaps a slight lightness to the palate but brimming with rosemary, bramble. Has good persistence but seems to be lacking some depth at the moment. A little young, needs to round out some more but will always be on the lighter end of the spectrum. Drink now-2035.
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2008 Vieux Château Certan has an admirable aromatic depth and is relatively elegant as a wine from Pomerol. The developing Pomerol is deep ruby in colour with a load of sediments. It is quite tart and reserved at first. The bottle requires six hours of in-bottle aeration to open up. Impressive aromatics of raspberry, red plum, freshly tiled soil and dark chocolate are followed by blueberry, spring flowers and a hint of incense.
The mouthfeel is dry and verging full-bodied, with a medium level of balancing acidity and a medium level of integrating tannin. Flavours of dried berries, violets and cocoa transition to fine spices and tobacco in a long, delineated finish. The 13.5% alcohol is well-integrated. The empty bottle weighs 543 grams. It is not as ripe, chocolatey and richly textured as the stereotypical Pomerol. I certainly enjoy the red-fruited and elegant expression of the Merlot grapes from the region.
The blend is composed of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and the balance of Cabernet Sauvignon. The vines are plated on deep clay soil, with more gravels in the topsoil for the Cabernet grapes. The must is vinified by the parcel in a mix of large stainless steel vats and used oak tanks. The wine is raised in roughly equal parts of new and used French oak barrels for 20 months.
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Deep ruby color. Bit reserved on the nose, with some coaxing yielding sweet dark berries and vanilla. Medium body, medium-plus acid, medium tannins. Black cherry, dark raspberry and tobacco on the palate. Youthful, but still accessible; would definitely hold for the future.
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A burly Bordeaux that runs contrary to the usual feminine elegance of a Pomerol. As others mentioned slightly simple and a tad austere, but a nice Bordeaux nonetheless. Tannins are still drying and perhaps more time is needed.
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Opened on Christmas but discarded after four hours of remaining an overly acidic wine that I was not going to suffer at Alte Liebe (best restaurant in Yokohama)
Day 1: Overly acidic crap.
Day 2: The same
Day 3: Some of what the other people are reporting can be found. However, this is heavy on the low pH. (Our BTL bought from a trusted shop in Japan.
Cork measures 50 mm (short) and is of lower range quality. The stamp is jumbled in the right side, "Certain". 2008 is in a different font...
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“Too young.” “Too old.” The next person who says that, immediately after you just shared what wine you really enjoyed - maybe just tell them to piss off. This: bought on futures, received on release, and kept cellared properly. Enjoyed over 2 days.
Day 1: after ~1hr in decanter, shows pure blackberry, plum, dark chocolate. Give another hour: cinnamon bark, dried leaves, but still fruit-driven. I swear I smell black mahagony furniture; like when you walk into a stately hope managed by the National Trust with 16C furniture. It’s an old wood, not volatile organoleptic. A bit later, walnuts. I kid you know. This is just beguiling. Half-bottle transferred to swing top, with 1cm air gap.
Day 2: allowed to breath 2 hrs. Pure, focused blackberry, plum and raspberry fruit. Milk chocolate. A hint of walnut.
Overall, just perfectly balanced fruit, acidity, alcohol, and soft tannins that underpin the palate. Wow. I visited the Château in 2008, during the harvest, and Alexandre Thienpont said, “this will be a very good vintage. For us and for Pomerol.”
Enjoy whenever you like. It’s a delight many times over.
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1/8, vg cork. Decanted 1/2 hr. Deep ruby/garnet core, pale garnet rim. Nose shows dark fruit, quite rich - touch of chocolate even, vanilla, liquorice. Freshness too, with a floral top=note. Medium bodied, dark fruited again, liquorice, quite fresh and linear with firm, but fine underlying tannins and vibrant acidity carrying a good length still slightly closed finish. Slight herbal note here too. Has excellent potential but perhaps in need of another 3-5 years to fill out a touch
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Double-decanted around four hours before drinking, and then decanted around half an hour before drinking. Powdery red fruit and a smokiness on the nose. Smelled good, but not that assertively. Good complexity on the palate, even though still broadly primary in feel: glossy red fruit, undergrowth, a little saline, a touch of truffle and sweet baking spice. Had the feeling of a lean thoroughbred, both graceful and unassuming, perhaps almost austere. Gorgeous long finish. Tannins were nicely resolved but still present after several hours of air, and this wine will continue to improve for 5-10 years.
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Very classical and balanced with approachable tannins yet with concentration to age long term. Still very young and pre-optimal drinking window. Better to leave five years to allow the development of tertiary notes, although not outrageous to drink now. Score based on current showing, expect to add one or two more points in 5 to 10 years +.
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6 bottles opened for a family party. Plums / blackcurrants and spices on a tempting voluptuous nose, the hint of austerity comes as a bit of surprise with firm tannins but wrapped with again with the fruit and lots of complexity. Demands attention from the drinker and all the family approved, some preferring this to a 95 Mouton!
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Left the majority of my muted bottle in 4oz vials and revisited them sporadically. After a month, man, so much better. Rich nose of blue and black fruit, potpourri, herbs, chocolate, and iron minerality. Rich palate with plenty of tannins and dark fruit. Not a ton of layers and complexity on the body outside of the tannins, but it hopefully just need more time, as many blue chips do.
Definitely a far better showing than a month ago. These vials are pretty clutch.
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Dark berries, licorice and sweet spices in the beautiful bouquet. On the palate salty licorice, chocolate, butter, creamy dark and red berries, good acidity and tannin and a great length. Focused wine in its young maturity stage and with a future of at least another decade (or two). Great wine.
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Drank decently nice at first, but it shut down hard after decanting for an hour. Never came back the whole evening. Zero clue what people have been praising recently. Will revisit tomorrow.
Update: Still muted. Not giving much of anything just yet.
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Didn't quite live up to my lofty expectations (after having read/studied so much about the estate and family), but was very good indeed. I think it should probably be left for some more years if you can bear it.
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Popped and poured and savoured over two hours. Lovely garnet colour, nose soft with rich red fruit (plums) hints of cinnamon and gloves. Rich smooth fruit with soft tannins wrap an intriguing & increasingly complex palate slowly evolving over time. Delicious - should it be kept further? The Community seems to think so but it gives great pleasure now.
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Pnp and drank with a steak from the grill. Works well for me with meat already. A silky palate of dark fruit with good depth. Fine to medium tannins pair well with the steak. Good length too.
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Black current, pencil, tobacco on the nose. Feels like it’s developing. This is a iron fist, velvet glove example. Palate feels like it has more to give. Similar flavors to the nose, albeit less developed. Tannins are delicate but certainly there (med). Acidity in check (med+). This is a balanced wine, but perhaps a bit closed down? Still think this needs more time. Either to fill out or come out of a closed phase. Has potential. Hold for 2-4 years before trying again
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Seems like a more classic vintage as this has a touch more rusticity and tannin than I've found in other VCCs. Dark fruit, tobacco and a touch of mint. Still has silky texture and pure fruit I associate with this producer. Will continue to improve with additional age, and I'll wait a few years (maybe 3-5) before trying another.
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Dark purple still. Closed nose of dark berries with some spice elements. Despite a 1h decant, the palate remained closed. There is good fruit but there is also a certain leanness and stronger tannins than usual. Wait another 3 years for this, 2022, it should come around. 92+
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Drank at Pazzo - Antwerp Very nice offering at this stage a nose of red fruits, a hint of vanilla, spices. Mouthfilling and juicy on the pallet, the tannines not fully integrated and strong accidic backbone, shall become better with age is still shaking of baby fat. The secundary fase is coming up. The mature and seductive cabernet franc helps a lot at this point with the undertone of graphite and leaves.
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Bought recently so not sure what the storage condition was but bit flabby. Suspect merlot from 2008 didn't have enough acidity. Have another bottle but think need to drink sooner than later.
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Classic in style, the wine is more interesting on the nose with its mix of tobacco leaf, flowers, truffle, wet earth, cocoa and red fruits. Elegant, refined, fresh and pure, this is quite nice now, and promises to be even better with more cellaring. The wine was made from blending 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
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Mostly about the future. Still quite bright and acidic, mostly red fruits. The cab notes are there, adding a nice nuance and complexity to the palate. Strong length. Tannins are quite fine but prominent. Turns slightly darker in the glass. Best to hold.
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Tasted next to the 2004. Dark, brooding and backward at first, slowly opening up revealing dark fruit notes, spices, tobacco. Quite layered and elegant on the palate, good fruit, bright acidity, maybe a little thin towards the finish with slightly drying tannins. Good length. Hold. 92-93+
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Still very primary fruit driven, charming and elegant but this is still a baby. So much more to come with some bottle age. You can drink if you like charming fruity wines, but I would recommend holding for at least another 3 years before looking again. I suspect this will need another 8-10 to really be at its peak
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Charming and already quite approachable. Intriguing aromatics of dark plum, black cherry, pepper, spice, licorice, and espresso. Very soft on the palate and showing off nice balance. This is drinking quite well right now, but it needs a lot of air. Definitely much more approachable right now than the 2005 VCC.
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Occasional dinner group: Riesling GG and Top Pomerol (@ Zarzo): In the bouquet red berries and some earth. On the palate red berries, some bell pepper, beautiful acidity and round tannin. Too few notes unfortunately. More youthful than Conseillante 2008.
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Last June I wrote “It is kind of stupid to open any top Bordeaux at age 7.” I either didn’t learn the lesson or curiosity got the best of me once again. Pop and pour, very subdued nose displaying ripe black fruits, dust and mineral. With air, the nose opens up slightly, blackberry concentration (blackberry jam but it seems to carry a negative connotation for some), chocolate dipped cherry, espresso, caramel, and a hint of cedar and ash. Medium concentration, very polished and silky palate, nicely layered fruits, strong presence of mineral, bright acidity, very fine tannins and seamless long finish. The fruit is quite ripe but the bright acidity and sensual palate provide nice balance and purity. This is a classic polished Pomerol. This will require at least five more years still but more like ten. It reminds me a bit of Clos Rougeard with cedar, caramel and fine dust. Very promising but I highly recommend to cellar for another five years minimum.
During a guided tasting I hosted with a friend. Single blind. Medium-dark ruby with purple core. Discrete nose of cool blue fruit, autumn leaves, mint and herbs. Very closed on the palate with lots of tannins (ripe ones) but needs time. This will be a very complex Pomerol when ready. Wait till 2018. 94-95
Tasting at home. Still pretty young and slightly closed. Slightly muted aromatics of red fruits, but also some black currant, elderberries, some eucalyptus, some vegetal herbs notes, some vanilla too. It's medium-full bodied with medium-high acidity and still pretty high tannin. An excellent VCC that is still a little too young, but lots of potential here. (94+)
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It is kind of stupid to open any top Bordeaux at age 7. This was a classic example of pretty shutdown bottle. Shy nose displaying a hint of ripe jammy sweet red fruits which I attribute to Merlot and Cab Franc dust and shy flowers, also espresso, milk and noticeable cedar. Classic polished weightless VCC palate, deceptively light impression due to silky palate and layered fruits, cool red fruit driven palate impression, bitter chocolate and cedar, strong presence of acidity and mineral and noticeable but none obtrusive tannins. There is a hint of dry oak tannins but I could be wrong. This is a classic polished, structured and beautifully balanced right bank wine. For my palate, it needs another five years minimum but more like ten to reach the first stage of the peak drinking. It will become a very polished medium weight wine with warm and round sweet caramel red fruits and flowers.
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Took over an hour to open. Complex nose with dark fruits, pencil shavings and spices. On the palate first hits fruityness followed by acidity and after awhile comes the smooth attack of fine ripe tannins. Very nice and drinkable now, but gonna wait few years untill next time.
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Medium garnet. Expressive nose of blueberry, eucalyptus, spices and some oak jumping from the glass. On the palate this is medium light-bodied "only" with lots of aromas again. Very elegant as the house style always is. Needs serious decanting or another few years of waiting (2018 onwards).
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Decanted 3 hours. Dark purple. Gorgeous nose of blackberry, violet, truffle, and dark chocolate. Velvety mouthfeel, rich and elegant. Medium-plus finish. Tannins still need a lot of time to soften. Highly enjoyable. One of the better '08s I've tried recently. While this vintage may not possess the power and complexity of the '09 and '10, this is highly enjoyable and a great VCC.
Lay and Wheeler 2008 and 2001 Claret (Glazier's Hall, London): More reserved on the nose. With red and black berry fruit, slight savoury and herbal note. Leaner and more linear on the palate, touch of earth, nice fresh acidity on the finish. ***.
Quite muted and shy on the nose at first, hints of forest notes, red fruit, spices. Round with good grip and freshness, well balanced, subtle and elegant, fine with great persistence and length. Good future. Needs a couple of more years. 93-95
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Pretty lush and deep fruit, countered with oak and tannins. Big wine, needs time. Give it at least another 3-5 years before checking in, needs to balance out further. Very good, but a recent tasting of the 2011 has this one beat.
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In 2008, Château Vieux Chateau Certan used more Cabernet Franc than usual according to owner, Alexandre Thienpont. Thienpont prefers Cab Franc vintages for their longer hang time and resulting aromatic complexity. I've found that vintages allowing for equal quaily merlot and caberrnet franc are the years when Vieux Chateau Certan is the most seductive. Fresh cherries, black fruit, and plums are easy to find in the nose. The wine is rich on the palate and finishes with long sensations of plummy fruit. 92-95 Pts
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Bordeaux 2008 (Bordeaux): Alexandre Thienpont calls 2008 a good but not great vintage for his estate, although I think he is being modest. At 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine reflects a late harvest, with fine acidity. The aromas show fleur de vigne, plum, black cherry û rather complex. The palate is fresh, even candied, fuller than it was in the spring. Although we then tasted the 2006 and 2005 to illustrate what a ôgreat vintageö means, he stressed, the 2008 is something special. 92-95
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3/30/2024 - GNBB wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 1hr. Intense perfumed nose, violets, meaty savouriness, almonds, black bramble fruits and some salinity. Exceptional - so VCC. Palate has light medium, very fine tannins, fresh acidity - perhaps a slight lightness to the palate but brimming with rosemary, bramble. Has good persistence but seems to be lacking some depth at the moment. A little young, needs to round out some more but will always be on the lighter end of the spectrum. Drink now-2035.
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12/13/2023 - apple1813 Likes this wine: 93 Points
2008 Vieux Château Certan has an admirable aromatic depth and is relatively elegant as a wine from Pomerol. The developing Pomerol is deep ruby in colour with a load of sediments. It is quite tart and reserved at first. The bottle requires six hours of in-bottle aeration to open up. Impressive aromatics of raspberry, red plum, freshly tiled soil and dark chocolate are followed by blueberry, spring flowers and a hint of incense.
The mouthfeel is dry and verging full-bodied, with a medium level of balancing acidity and a medium level of integrating tannin. Flavours of dried berries, violets and cocoa transition to fine spices and tobacco in a long, delineated finish. The 13.5% alcohol is well-integrated. The empty bottle weighs 543 grams. It is not as ripe, chocolatey and richly textured as the stereotypical Pomerol. I certainly enjoy the red-fruited and elegant expression of the Merlot grapes from the region.
The blend is composed of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and the balance of Cabernet Sauvignon. The vines are plated on deep clay soil, with more gravels in the topsoil for the Cabernet grapes. The must is vinified by the parcel in a mix of large stainless steel vats and used oak tanks. The wine is raised in roughly equal parts of new and used French oak barrels for 20 months.
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7/2/2023 - timothynbond Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep ruby color. Bit reserved on the nose, with some coaxing yielding sweet dark berries and vanilla. Medium body, medium-plus acid, medium tannins. Black cherry, dark raspberry and tobacco on the palate. Youthful, but still accessible; would definitely hold for the future.
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12/28/2022 - Hazeo wrote: 91 Points
A burly Bordeaux that runs contrary to the usual feminine elegance of a Pomerol. As others mentioned slightly simple and a tad austere, but a nice Bordeaux nonetheless. Tannins are still drying and perhaps more time is needed.
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12/26/2022 - StefanAkiko wrote:
Opened on Christmas but discarded after four hours of remaining an overly acidic wine that I was not going to suffer at Alte Liebe (best restaurant in Yokohama)
Day 1:
Overly acidic crap.
Day 2:
The same
Day 3:
Some of what the other people are reporting can be found. However, this is heavy on the low pH. (Our BTL bought from a trusted shop in Japan.
Cork measures 50 mm (short) and is of lower range quality. The stamp is jumbled in the right side, "Certain". 2008 is in a different font...
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9/13/2022 - platpeeps Likes this wine: 94 Points
Savoury, tasting of plum fruit seasoned with spice. Smooth, soft and plush. Very polished and classy. Impressive. 94 pts
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3/19/2022 - dkfinancial Likes this wine: 94 Points
“Too young.” “Too old.” The next person who says that, immediately after you just shared what wine you really enjoyed - maybe just tell them to piss off. This: bought on futures, received on release, and kept cellared properly. Enjoyed over 2 days.
Day 1: after ~1hr in decanter, shows pure blackberry, plum, dark chocolate. Give another hour: cinnamon bark, dried leaves, but still fruit-driven. I swear I smell black mahagony furniture; like when you walk into a stately hope managed by the National Trust with 16C furniture. It’s an old wood, not volatile organoleptic. A bit later, walnuts. I kid you know. This is just beguiling. Half-bottle transferred to swing top, with 1cm air gap.
Day 2: allowed to breath 2 hrs. Pure, focused blackberry, plum and raspberry fruit. Milk chocolate. A hint of walnut.
Overall, just perfectly balanced fruit, acidity, alcohol, and soft tannins that underpin the palate. Wow. I visited the Château in 2008, during the harvest, and Alexandre Thienpont said, “this will be a very good vintage. For us and for Pomerol.”
Enjoy whenever you like. It’s a delight many times over.
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1/17/2022 - AndrewR wrote: 88 Points
Silky and ready, a bit past it's prime. Fairly simple and subtle though no doubt well made. Pass.
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12/22/2021 - Paul D wrote: 92 Points
1/8, vg cork. Decanted 1/2 hr.
Deep ruby/garnet core, pale garnet rim. Nose shows dark fruit, quite rich - touch of chocolate even, vanilla, liquorice. Freshness too, with a floral top=note. Medium bodied, dark fruited again, liquorice, quite fresh and linear with firm, but fine underlying tannins and vibrant acidity carrying a good length still slightly closed finish. Slight herbal note here too. Has excellent potential but perhaps in need of another 3-5 years to fill out a touch
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9/22/2021 - NickA Likes this wine: 93 Points
Double-decanted around four hours before drinking, and then decanted around half an hour before drinking. Powdery red fruit and a smokiness on the nose. Smelled good, but not that assertively. Good complexity on the palate, even though still broadly primary in feel: glossy red fruit, undergrowth, a little saline, a touch of truffle and sweet baking spice. Had the feeling of a lean thoroughbred, both graceful and unassuming, perhaps almost austere. Gorgeous long finish. Tannins were nicely resolved but still present after several hours of air, and this wine will continue to improve for 5-10 years.
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9/22/2021 - fussyeater Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very classical and balanced with approachable tannins yet with concentration to age long term. Still very young and pre-optimal drinking window. Better to leave five years to allow the development of tertiary notes, although not outrageous to drink now. Score based on current showing, expect to add one or two more points in 5 to 10 years +.
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8/30/2021 - Zazzaman Likes this wine: 94 Points
6 bottles opened for a family party. Plums / blackcurrants and spices on a tempting voluptuous nose, the hint of austerity comes as a bit of surprise with firm tannins but wrapped with again with the fruit and lots of complexity. Demands attention from the drinker and all the family approved, some preferring this to a 95 Mouton!
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8/3/2021 - Satoshi Nakamoto wrote: 92 Points
Left the majority of my muted bottle in 4oz vials and revisited them sporadically. After a month, man, so much better. Rich nose of blue and black fruit, potpourri, herbs, chocolate, and iron minerality. Rich palate with plenty of tannins and dark fruit. Not a ton of layers and complexity on the body outside of the tannins, but it hopefully just need more time, as many blue chips do.
Definitely a far better showing than a month ago. These vials are pretty clutch.
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7/17/2021 - Zweder wrote: 94 Points
Dark berries, licorice and sweet spices in the beautiful bouquet. On the palate salty licorice, chocolate, butter, creamy dark and red berries, good acidity and tannin and a great length. Focused wine in its young maturity stage and with a future of at least another decade (or two). Great wine.
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7/3/2021 - Satoshi Nakamoto wrote:
Drank decently nice at first, but it shut down hard after decanting for an hour. Never came back the whole evening. Zero clue what people have been praising recently. Will revisit tomorrow.
Update: Still muted. Not giving much of anything just yet.
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12/30/2020 - Nojomoschwa Likes this wine: 93 Points
Didn't quite live up to my lofty expectations (after having read/studied so much about the estate and family), but was very good indeed. I think it should probably be left for some more years if you can bear it.
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4/4/2020 - Zazzaman Likes this wine: 94 Points
Popped and poured and savoured over two hours. Lovely garnet colour, nose soft with rich red fruit (plums) hints of cinnamon and gloves. Rich smooth fruit with soft tannins wrap an intriguing & increasingly complex palate slowly evolving over time. Delicious - should it be kept further? The Community seems to think so but it gives great pleasure now.
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3/12/2020 - RayOB wrote: 92 Points
Drank at 67
No change since 2015 tasting
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2/23/2020 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pnp and drank with a steak from the grill. Works well for me with meat already. A silky palate of dark fruit with good depth. Fine to medium tannins pair well with the steak. Good length too.
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11/6/2019 - W!neNot? Likes this wine: 93 Points
Black current, pencil, tobacco on the nose. Feels like it’s developing. This is a iron fist, velvet glove example. Palate feels like it has more to give. Similar flavors to the nose, albeit less developed. Tannins are delicate but certainly there (med). Acidity in check (med+). This is a balanced wine, but perhaps a bit closed down? Still think this needs more time. Either to fill out or come out of a closed phase. Has potential. Hold for 2-4 years before trying again
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10/9/2019 - B Paul wrote:
Seems like a more classic vintage as this has a touch more rusticity and tannin than I've found in other VCCs. Dark fruit, tobacco and a touch of mint. Still has silky texture and pure fruit I associate with this producer. Will continue to improve with additional age, and I'll wait a few years (maybe 3-5) before trying another.
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8/23/2019 - Collector1855 wrote: 92 Points
Dark purple still. Closed nose of dark berries with some spice elements. Despite a 1h decant, the palate remained closed. There is good fruit but there is also a certain leanness and stronger tannins than usual. Wait another 3 years for this, 2022, it should come around. 92+
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5/23/2019 - Dave77 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank at Pazzo - Antwerp
Very nice offering at this stage a nose of red fruits, a hint of vanilla, spices.
Mouthfilling and juicy on the pallet, the tannines not fully integrated and strong accidic backbone, shall become better with age is still shaking of baby fat. The secundary fase is coming up.
The mature and seductive cabernet franc helps a lot at this point with the undertone of graphite and leaves.
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4/29/2019 - chanukha wrote: 89 Points
Bought recently so not sure what the storage condition was but bit flabby. Suspect merlot from 2008 didn't have enough acidity. Have another bottle but think need to drink sooner than later.
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2/18/2019 - RayOB wrote: 93 Points
Drank in London
Slight refined nose, rich deep long palate
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9/17/2018 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
Classic in style, the wine is more interesting on the nose with its mix of tobacco leaf, flowers, truffle, wet earth, cocoa and red fruits. Elegant, refined, fresh and pure, this is quite nice now, and promises to be even better with more cellaring. The wine was made from blending 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
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5/22/2018 - cos65 Likes this wine:
Nice stuff, but not too expressive at this point. Hold
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5/22/2018 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Mostly about the future. Still quite bright and acidic, mostly red fruits. The cab notes are there, adding a nice nuance and complexity to the palate. Strong length. Tannins are quite fine but prominent. Turns slightly darker in the glass. Best to hold.
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12/4/2017 - rossi.wine wrote: 93 Points
Tasted next to the 2004. Dark, brooding and backward at first, slowly opening up revealing dark fruit notes, spices, tobacco. Quite layered and elegant on the palate, good fruit, bright acidity, maybe a little thin towards the finish with slightly drying tannins. Good length. Hold. 92-93+
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9/13/2017 - W!neNot? Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still very primary fruit driven, charming and elegant but this is still a baby. So much more to come with some bottle age. You can drink if you like charming fruity wines, but I would recommend holding for at least another 3 years before looking again. I suspect this will need another 8-10 to really be at its peak
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7/7/2017 - DrinkBordeaux wrote: 93 Points
Charming and already quite approachable. Intriguing aromatics of dark plum, black cherry, pepper, spice, licorice, and espresso. Very soft on the palate and showing off nice balance. This is drinking quite well right now, but it needs a lot of air. Definitely much more approachable right now than the 2005 VCC.
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5/19/2017 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
Occasional dinner group: Riesling GG and Top Pomerol (@ Zarzo): In the bouquet red berries and some earth. On the palate red berries, some bell pepper, beautiful acidity and round tannin. Too few notes unfortunately. More youthful than Conseillante 2008.
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3/5/2017 - PC73 wrote:
Quite woody
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6/22/2016 - dcwino wrote: 94 Points
Last June I wrote “It is kind of stupid to open any top Bordeaux at age 7.” I either didn’t learn the lesson or curiosity got the best of me once again. Pop and pour, very subdued nose displaying ripe black fruits, dust and mineral. With air, the nose opens up slightly, blackberry concentration (blackberry jam but it seems to carry a negative connotation for some), chocolate dipped cherry, espresso, caramel, and a hint of cedar and ash. Medium concentration, very polished and silky palate, nicely layered fruits, strong presence of mineral, bright acidity, very fine tannins and seamless long finish. The fruit is quite ripe but the bright acidity and sensual palate provide nice balance and purity. This is a classic polished Pomerol. This will require at least five more years still but more like ten. It reminds me a bit of Clos Rougeard with cedar, caramel and fine dust. Very promising but I highly recommend to cellar for another five years minimum.
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6/8/2016 - jskuek Does not like this wine: 88 Points
Did not perform tonight ...
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3/8/2016 - Collector1855 wrote: 94 Points
During a guided tasting I hosted with a friend. Single blind. Medium-dark ruby with purple core. Discrete nose of cool blue fruit, autumn leaves, mint and herbs. Very closed on the palate with lots of tannins (ripe ones) but needs time. This will be a very complex Pomerol when ready. Wait till 2018. 94-95
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2/28/2016 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasting at home. Still pretty young and slightly closed. Slightly muted aromatics of red fruits, but also some black currant, elderberries, some eucalyptus, some vegetal herbs notes, some vanilla too. It's medium-full bodied with medium-high acidity and still pretty high tannin. An excellent VCC that is still a little too young, but lots of potential here. (94+)
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1/1/2016 - MarcelloW Likes this wine:
It is really a waist to open this bottle today. We were just curios. Looks promising, but better don't touch this for at least another 7 years....
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9/1/2015 - dpihlain Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beautiful wine. Lovely cedary/floral perfume with tons of fruit on the palate kept in check by the acidity. Better in a few years, though...
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6/25/2015 - VoteferPedro wrote:
decanted 2 hours. Strong lavender aroma with tart acid on palate
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6/10/2015 - dcwino wrote: 94 Points
It is kind of stupid to open any top Bordeaux at age 7. This was a classic example of pretty shutdown bottle. Shy nose displaying a hint of ripe jammy sweet red fruits which I attribute to Merlot and Cab Franc dust and shy flowers, also espresso, milk and noticeable cedar. Classic polished weightless VCC palate, deceptively light impression due to silky palate and layered fruits, cool red fruit driven palate impression, bitter chocolate and cedar, strong presence of acidity and mineral and noticeable but none obtrusive tannins. There is a hint of dry oak tannins but I could be wrong. This is a classic polished, structured and beautifully balanced right bank wine. For my palate, it needs another five years minimum but more like ten to reach the first stage of the peak drinking. It will become a very polished medium weight wine with warm and round sweet caramel red fruits and flowers.
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5/17/2015 - Mige Likes this wine:
Took over an hour to open. Complex nose with dark fruits, pencil shavings and spices. On the palate first hits fruityness followed by acidity and after awhile comes the smooth attack of fine ripe tannins. Very nice and drinkable now, but gonna wait few years untill next time.
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4/24/2015 - jskuek wrote: 92 Points
young and need time to settle down. Nose was good with creamy vanilla, Leather.
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2/28/2015 - RayOB wrote: 92 Points
A Matter of Taste: London Edition (Saatchi Gallery, Chelsea): Dark deep red colour. Nose of plumbs, spice and coffee. Surprisingly smooth in the mouth with a complex taste.
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2/28/2015 - rossi.wine wrote: flawed
Corked bottle.
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2/7/2015 - Collector1855 wrote: 94 Points
Medium garnet. Expressive nose of blueberry, eucalyptus, spices and some oak jumping from the glass. On the palate this is medium light-bodied "only" with lots of aromas again. Very elegant as the house style always is. Needs serious decanting or another few years of waiting (2018 onwards).
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1/2/2015 - DrinkBordeaux wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 3 hours. Dark purple. Gorgeous nose of blackberry, violet, truffle, and dark chocolate. Velvety mouthfeel, rich and elegant. Medium-plus finish. Tannins still need a lot of time to soften. Highly enjoyable. One of the better '08s I've tried recently. While this vintage may not possess the power and complexity of the '09 and '10, this is highly enjoyable and a great VCC.
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5/1/2014 - Paul D wrote:
Lay and Wheeler 2008 and 2001 Claret (Glazier's Hall, London): More reserved on the nose. With red and black berry fruit, slight savoury and herbal note. Leaner and more linear on the palate, touch of earth, nice fresh acidity on the finish. ***.
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5/1/2014 - rossi.wine wrote: 94 Points
Quite muted and shy on the nose at first, hints of forest notes, red fruit, spices. Round with good grip and freshness, well balanced, subtle and elegant, fine with great persistence and length. Good future. Needs a couple of more years. 93-95
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4/29/2014 - MikeZ wrote:
not really ready for business, at least this bottle...hoping it opens a bit more on day 2 or day 3
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10/15/2012 - eBoB wrote: 94 Points
Wino doskonale. Perfekcyjny balans owocow - tanin.
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5/19/2012 - edub7 wrote: 94 Points
Pretty lush and deep fruit, countered with oak and tannins. Big wine, needs time. Give it at least another 3-5 years before checking in, needs to balance out further. Very good, but a recent tasting of the 2011 has this one beat.
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8/30/2009 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
In 2008, Château Vieux Chateau Certan used more Cabernet Franc than usual according to owner, Alexandre Thienpont. Thienpont prefers Cab Franc vintages for their longer hang time and resulting aromatic complexity. I've found that vintages allowing for equal quaily merlot and caberrnet franc are the years when Vieux Chateau Certan is the most seductive. Fresh cherries, black fruit, and plums are easy to find in the nose. The wine is rich on the palate and finishes with long sensations of plummy fruit. 92-95 Pts
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6/1/2009 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bordeaux 2008 (Bordeaux): Alexandre Thienpont calls 2008 a good but not great vintage for his estate, although I think he is being modest. At 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine reflects a late harvest, with fine acidity. The aromas show fleur de vigne, plum, black cherry û rather complex. The palate is fresh, even candied, fuller than it was in the spring. Although we then tasted the 2006 and 2005 to illustrate what a ôgreat vintageö means, he stressed, the 2008 is something special. 92-95
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