| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Pomerol |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
I've found a number of 2000s finally overtaking the 2001s this year, after a long time when the 2001 vintage was clearly showing better. But there are still moments when 2001 reigns, and this Vieux Château Certan is a case in point. Slowly unrolls, gathering in power as it goes, blackberry, damson and raspberry fruits, together with truffle, toasted almonds, tobacco leaf, ash. A great moment to open and enjoy this wine, made for sharing.
A brilliant effort from Alexandre Thienpont, this blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc is a deep purple-colored, fleshy, layered effort offering a sweet nose of creosote, incense, Christmas spices, plenty of red and black fruits, and hints of licorice as well as new oak. Rich, medium to full-bodied, with tremendous purity in addition to nobility, give it two more years of cellaring and drink it over the next following 15-18 years.
Well shaded at the rim. Dense and angular – not the purest but well constituted. Pretty stodgy tannins and some acidity but enough ripe fruit anyway. Slight greenness.
A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the dense opaque purple-colored 2001 offers phenomenally sweet aromas of black cherry liquer intermixed with charcoal, vanilla, new saddle leather, and a hint of fruitcake. It is full-bodied and opulently textured that has more in common with the 2000 than 2001. Alexandre Thienpont feels the unusual blend, with all the old-vine Merlot (from vineyards planted in 1932, 1942, and 1959) has given the wines a profound depth and unctuosity that even the 2000 does not possess. This is a splendid achievement! Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025. Last tasted, 1/03.
An unctuously-styled Vieux Chateau Certan, largely because of the high percentage of old-vine Merlot (80% along with 20% Cabernet Franc) that made it into the final blend, this deep ruby/purple-colored 2001 offers up notes of cherry liqueur, camphor, saddle leather and a hint of cedar. The wine is medium to full-bodied, with low acidity, ripe tannin, and an unctuous texture. A brilliant effort, this might be a case where the 2001 equals the 2000. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025.
The dense opaque purple-colored 2001, a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, offers phenomenally sweet aromas of black cherry liqueur intermixed with charcoal, vanilla, new saddle leather, and a hint of fruitcake. It is full-bodied and opulently textured, with low acidity, ripe tannin, and a remarkably layered, unctuous texture that has more in common with the 2000 than 2001. Thienpont feels the unusual blend, with all of the old vine Merlot (from vineyards planted in 1932, 1942, and 1959), has given the wine a profound depth and unctuosity that even the 2000 does not possess. This is a splendid achievement! One of the stars of the vintage, Alexandre Thienpont has been at the top of his game since 1998. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025.
