Vieux Chateau Certan, Pomerol

Description

Vieux Chateau Certan is widely recognised as one of the very best wines produced in the Pomerol wine-growing region on Bordeaux’s right bank.

The origins of Vieux Chateau Certan stretch back to 1745 when the estate was founded by the Scottish Demay family. In 1924 the estate was purchased by Flemish wine merchant Georges Thienpont. It is his grandson, Alexandre, who runs the estate today. The estate consists of 14 hectares of vineyard planted in one single block. It is comprised of 23 plots, each of them individually managed according to soil type, grape variety planted, and age of vines. The soils are subtly varied and contain a very clayey part planted mainly with Merlot (70%), a gravel-clay part planted with Cabernet Franc (25%) and a very gravelly part planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (5%). The average vine ages is 50 years old.

The grand wine of Vieux Chateau Certan is made from grapes sourced only from the vineyard’s oldest vines. Each vintage is a blend of the most excellent lots produced at the estate. Grapes are harvested by hand and carefully sorted at the end of each row of wines. After a gentle crushing the grapes are vinified separately in oak vats by grape variety. The wine is aged in 100 % new French oak barrels and for 18 to 22 months.