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Vieux Château Certan 1998

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Pomerol
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot/Cabernet Franc

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Tasting Notes

Undoubtedly the finest offering from this estate since 1990, the 1998 has closed down since bottling, but there is no doubting its fabulous potential. The colour is a dense purple. The wine reveals high tannin, huge body, and classy black fruits intermixed with minerals, sprice box, cedar box, and tobacco. A long, persistent, tannic finish gives this majestic effort a closed but formidable personality. Patience will be required. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2030

94+
Robert Parker, Bordeaux Book (4), December 2003

This is obviously one of Alexandre Thienpont’s favourite vintages under his tenure (so far) – no wonder he was disappointed when I told him the bottle was tainted. Sipped from another glass, this is patently developing a precocious bouquet brimming with cassis, blueberry and violet scents, spilling over the top of the glass. The palate is concentrated, silky smooth, viscous, almost opulent in style with a slightly lower level of acidity than I expected. A ravishing, Reubenesque finish, this is a decadent VCC that is turning out to be a generous wine. Drink 2012-2035+.

95
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, July 2013

Relatively pale. Very very correct and taut. The left bank face of Pomerol. Glossy, correct. Very fine and muscular.

18
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, March 2006
Read more tasting notes...

A fine offering, the 1998 has closed down, but there is no doubting its fabulous potential. The color is a dense purple. The wine reveals high tannin, huge body, and classy black fruits intermixed with minerals, spice box, cedar, and tobacco. A long, persistent, tannic finish gives this majestic effort a closed but formidable personality. Patience will be required. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2030.

92
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (134), April 2001

A prodigious effort, this dense ruby/purple-colored 1998 reveals an explosive bouquet of licorice, cedar, spice box, and jammy blackberry, currant, and cherry fruit. Profoundly concentrated, with great flavor, purity, as well as extraordinary complexity and palate presence, this wine boasts multiple layers of flavor, silky tannin, a thick, viscous texture, and a 45-second finish. The glycerin and huge extract conceal what appear to be high levels of tannin. Unusually for Vieux-Chateau-Certan, this wine contains no Cabernet Franc, being a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, harvested at a low 34 hectoliters per hectare. It is a superstar of the vintage! Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025.

94/96
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (128), April 2000
94/96
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (122), April 1999
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.