The 2010 Vieux Chateau Certan is a Bordeaux blend composed of 86% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon from the renowned Pomerol region of Bordeaux, France. This red wine, produced by Vieux Chateau Certan, is sealed with a cork and boasts an alcohol content of 14.5%.
Highly acclaimed by critics, this wine has garnered widespread praise. Chuck Hayward from JJ Buckley awarded it a 98, noting, "Forward yet restrained aromas of blackberry and stone leap out of the glass...an almost creamy viscous texture." Hayward emphasized its finesse and balance, predicting its best drinking window in 20 years.
Jeff Leve of TheWineCellarInsider.com rated it a near-perfect 99, describing it as "Opulent, vivacious, deep, long, intense, and seamless." He highlighted its "non-stop layers of velvet-textured, perfectly ripe, black and red cherries and plums," indicating its ideal consumption period from 2024 to 2055.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, through the lens of LPB, awarded a perfect 100 score, stating, "The 2010 Vieux Château Certan is deep garnet in color, and—POW—the nose opens as a complete spice-bomb." The publication praised its "full-bodied, rich and seductive" character, with "layers of black and blue fruit preserves" and an "epically long and perfumed" finish.
James Suckling also gave it a 100, calling it "a perfect wine with perfect purity of fruit," and noting its "lovely sweetness of fruit and ripe tannins." He recommended waiting until 2020 for optimal enjoyment.
Other notable reviews include Wine Spectator's 98, describing it as "A stunner" with "terrific minerality" and a finish that "let[s] power and refinement play out almost endlessly." Wine Enthusiast also awarded it a 97, noting its "beautiful, velvety smooth" texture and "elegance."
Jancis Robinson’s Purple Pages gave it a 95, praising its "minerals, energy, racy" profile, while Decanter rated it 97, highlighting its "precise, fleshy pleasure" and "elegance."
Overall, the 2010 Vieux Chateau Certan is celebrated for its balance, depth, and complex flavor profile, making it a distinguished example of a Pomerol Bordeaux blend.