| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Pomerol |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
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
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+.
Relatively pale. Very very correct and taut. The left bank face of Pomerol. Glossy, correct. Very fine and muscular.
Despite the high proportion of Cabernet (50%) in the vineyard, the 1998 is 90% Merlot. Expect a Cabernet dominated second wine! Picked between 21st and 26th of September with a yield of 34 hl/ha, this is a dense black wine. Massive, opulent with big glycerin and a tarry richness. Very impressive. Small production, will be scarce.
(FV 17.5) (WS 95-100)
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.
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.
