The 2022 Vieux Chateau Certan is a Bordeaux blend from the Pomerol sub-region of Bordeaux, France. Produced by Vieux Chateau Certan, this wine features a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. With a deep garnet-purple color, it has garnered exceptional reviews from several esteemed wine critics.
Jeff Leve of TheWineCellarInsider.com awarded it a near-perfect score of 99 points, describing it as "dark in color, and equally dark in fruit," with notes of truffles, violets, roses, lilacs, black plums, and cherries. Leve praises its "sensuous, supple, and silky" palate, highlighting its vibrancy, mild saltiness, and refreshing hint of mint. He concludes that the wine is "refined and elegant" and predicts it will age well from 2027 to 2060. (Leve, 5/8/2023).
Jeb Dunnuck, who gave it a perfect score of 100 points, calls it "one of the wines of the vintage." He notes the wine's "massive array of black cherries, violets, red plums, chocolate, and violets," and describes its mouthfeel as "voluptuously layered" with "perfect tannins" and a "great, great finish" (Dunnuck, 5/10/2023).
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also awarded it 99 points. William Kelley describes the wine as "a magical wine of exemplary harmony and balance" with "complex aromas of dark berries and cherries mingled with notions of exotic spices, licorice, iris, violets, and loamy soil." Kelley emphasizes its "supple and seamless" body, noting its "sweet structuring tannins" and "multidimensional core of pure, vibrant fruit" (Kelley, 4/28/2023).
James Suckling also gives it 99 points, commending its "freshness and dynamic sense" and describing it as "minerally and salty," with "excellent length" (Suckling, 4/19/2023).
Jane Anson offers a more nuanced perspective with a score of 96 points, noting its "firm tannic frame" and "exuberance of the vintage." She suggests it will need "a good eight to ten years in bottle to soften" (Anson, 4/20/2023).
Vinous, awarding another perfect 100 points, appreciates its "tremendous sophistication and polish," highlighting its "delicate and nuanced" nature. Antonio Galloni notes the wine's "super-expressive finish" with hints of "crème de cassis, lavender, spice, and licorice" (Galloni, 5/9/2023).
Decanter, giving it 98 points, praises its "expressiveness on the nose" and "juicy core that gives life and energy." The review describes it as "lively, bright, intense, concentrated and suave," suggesting it has both immediate accessibility and great aging potential (Decanter, 4/1/2023).
The Wine Independent also awarded it a perfect 100 points, noting its "deep garnet-purple color" and complex layers of "black cherry preserves, black raspberries, and juicy black plums" with "star anise, lilacs, rose oil, and truffles" (The Wine Independent, 5/14/2023).
Overall, the 2022 Vieux Chateau Certan is highly acclaimed, with multiple reviewers praising its complexity, balance, and aging potential.