Vieux Château Certan 2023

A wine with great depth and complexity; you could almost bathe in it, the fragrance is so delicate—floral, dark-fruited, seductive. Dense on the palate, generous fruit, a mouthful of wine without an ounce of excess fat, perfectly balanced tannins, sensational structure, crisp fruit, and excellent length. A great Vieux Château Certan.

Beautiful purple colour in the glass, vibrant and alive. Great florality; raspberry, cherry, cranberry, lots of fresh red summer berries and lots of aromatics. Broad and expansive on the palate, delicate yet powerful with flavours of crushed herbs, stones and mint – sappy and saline. Feels very VCC on the palate, combining grippy Cabernets with fruity, fleshy Merlot. A statuesque and structured wine with no harshness. Effortless and totally moreish. I love it, classicism in the very best way. There’s something incredible about this wine, full of life and juiciness. Excellent. 3.74 pH (lower than usual). 4% press wine. Ageing two thirds new oak. 42 hl/ha yield.

The 2023 Vieux Château Certan is wonderfully complex and dynamic in the glass. The layers here are just remarkable. That sort of dimension is one of the qualities that was hard to come by in 2023. Dark blue-toned fruit, lavender, scorched earth, new leather and menthol soar, lending tons of vertical, explosive energy. Floral and savory overtones develop with air, adding further shades of nuance. What a gorgeous and complete wine this is.

Here, you find the delicate balance of its showy, floral aromatics topped with black plums, black cherries, chocolate, truffles, and spice in the perfume. There is intensity, richness, velvety tannins, chalky accents, and waves of restrained, refined, chocolate-infused, vibrant, energetic dark fruit finishing with a touch of spice on the palate. This is not a naturally showy vintage. It will take some time and effort to mature before transforming into a sensuous wine with its underpinning uplifting acidity. But it will be worth the wait. The wine blends 82% Merlot, and 18% Cabernet Franc. 2029-2060.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening. Delicate herbal savouriness, nougat, dark cherry, a hint of clove, candied orange zest. Complex, juicy and silky, fine extract sweetness, nuances of black cherry and blackberry, fine, round tannins, fresh minerality on the finish, animating, hides its muscles perfectly, shows great length, secure and certain ageing potential. A classic.

Fresh floral lift on the aromatics, then dark berry fruits and a muscular core on the palate, classically weighted with grip and texture, white pepper spice and salted-cracker salinity on the finish. It stretches across the palate, gloriously old-school, full of hidden depths and pleasures. 43 hl/ha yield, harvest from September 18 to 29. The youngest vines here date from 1988, which helps deliver the complexity so celebrated at VCC.

Score: 96–98. Aristocratic and self-assured, with dark tones, the nose unfurls generous fruit aromas, ripe and deep, with a sappy, harmonious tenderness. Chalky and fluid on the palate, it shows energy and minerality, with notes of dark chocolate, cocoa bean and fleur de sel on a finish with creamy, chewy tannins.

The depth paired with the bouquet’s filigree character leaves no doubt as to this wine’s subtlety. Nothing is given away; everything must be sought, in an explicitly restrained approach where aromas reveal themselves in bursts and in clues. The sense of ripeness is allied to the freshness of Cabernet Franc, but also to the charm and precision of Merlot. Energy builds gently, first properly acknowledging a structuring acidity, then moving past it to take command. The tannins then settle in comfortably and serenely, providing a firm backbone built to last, without ruling out more youthful pleasures. A graceful, creamy, powerful and deep wine. It sketches outlines that unhesitatingly feed expectations worthy of meeting 2022 head-on. Proof lies in the vibrant, mouthwatering, even saline finish.

The 2023 Vieux Château Certan has turned out beautifully, bursting with aromas of blackberries and mulberries mingled with notions of iris, licorice and burning embers. Medium- to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with an elegantly unctuous attack that segues into a rich and succulent mid-palate, it's a suave, seamless classic that will enjoy a wide drinking window. The 2023 is a blend of 82% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Franc that checks in at 14% alcohol.