Rich yet restrained bramble fruits, which are ripe and precise (there’s 86% merlot here), together with meaty tones and less obvious cabernet franc leafiness. The attack on the palate is lush, with fine-tuned tannins, creamy weight and firm acidity. Power with grace. Youthful, with a huge potential for aging. Best from 2030, this will last for decades.

The 2010 Vieux Château Certan is deep garnet in color, and—POW—the nose opens as a complete spice-bomb, featuring notes of fenugreek, cumin seed and cinnamon stick over a core of Black Forest cake, plum preserves and blueberry pie with hints of fragrant earth and crushed stones. Full-bodied, rich and seductive in the mouth, it is laden with layers of black and blue fruit preserves, framed by super plush tannins, finishing epically long and perfumed.- LPB

Just starting to wake up, but still, there is no denying the incredible character of this wine. Opulent, vivacious, deep, long, intense, and seamless, the wine coats and stains your palate with non-stop layers of velvet-textured, perfectly ripe, black and red, cherries and plums with background notes of chocolate, truffle, and spice that allow black raspberries to show in the back of the finish. Drink from 2024-2055.

86% merlot 8% cabernet franc 6% cabernet sauvignon. Forward yet restrained aromas of blackberry and stone leap out of the glass. On the palate there is a core of blackberry jam with dark chocolate that melds into an almost creamy viscous texture. But this beautifully poised wine maintains finesse and does not become overripe. The great length is beautifully proportioned and ends with tannins which have presence without being overbearing in texture. An artisanal Pomerol and a great expression of the vintage. Best in 20 years.

High floral and gunsmoke aromatics, this is intense and concentrated. Where the 2009 has more immediately appeal, this 2010 is clearly going to deliver over the decades. Coiled and reserved tannins, a ton of texture and powerful black fruits, precise and poised, this is exception.

A stunner, this marries structured tobacco, ganache and loam notes to a glorious core of raspberry, blackberry and plum coulis flavors, accented by coffee, roasted mesquite and black tea aromatics. A terrific minerality courses throughout, with the finish letting power and refinement play out almost endlessly. Best from 2017 through 2040. – JM

A stunner, this marries structured tobacco, ganache and loam notes to a glorious core of raspberry, blackberry and plum coulis flavors, accented by coffee, roasted mesquite and black tea aromatics. A terrific minerality courses throughout, with the finish letting power and refinement play out almost endlessly. Best from 2017 through 2040. 3,500 cases made.

Slowly opening, taking its time and yet full of precise, fleshy pleasure. This is an understated 2010 as far as the vintage goes on the Right Bank, muscular while full of elegance and mouth watering pleasure. Dark chocolate notes, a fistful of tannins, fleshy but carefully extracted fruits, just a lovely example of Pomerol on the subtler side of the street.

The 2010 Vieux Château Certan has been compared to the 1950 by Alexandre Thienpont, who mentioned that berries were usually small, with yields at 35hl/ha. It's slightly deeper in color than the 2009. This has an outstanding, concentrated bouquet with black fruit, melted tar, cedar and a touch of morels (as noted previously). There is better delineation compared to the previous vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with an almost Côte de Nuits-like texture and perfect acidity, and the tannins are present but fine. Incense and licorice join the fray with time. It's harmonious on the finish with ample freshness. This magnificent VCC is only in its first couple of chapters. Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove, Belgium. -- Neal Martin

A beautiful, velvety smooth wine, unusually for Vieux Château Certan dominated by Merlot. It has tannin, to be sure, but these are conveyed through the ripe fruit and the sweetness of the blackberry flavors. It is opulent, although never too much, retaining its elegance. Age for many years.

Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Vieux Chateau Certan 2010 has a tightly wound bouquet with truffle tinged black fruit, hints of warm gravel and spice. The palate is medium-bodied with taut tannins, superb acidity and a convincing sense of energy and tension from start to finish. It needs a little more depth on the mid-palate, but is very fresh with good structure. This is a great wine from Alexandre Thienpont.