The 2023 Vieux Chateau Certan is a Bordeaux blend composed of 82% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Franc, hailing from the prestigious Pomerol region in Bordeaux, France. This wine has garnered significant acclaim from a range of prominent wine reviewers, achieving remarkable scores across the board.
James Suckling awarded the wine a near-perfect score of 98 points, praising its "subtle density and a racy backbone of tannins." He describes it as "compact with well-toned muscles and a persistent finish," noting its silky texture and growth on the palate (jamessuckling.com).
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, with a score of 96 points, highlights the wine's "demonstrative aromas of dark berries, pencil shavings, violets mingled with notions of burning embers, iris, crushed mint, and black tea." William Kelley emphasized its "velvety and sensual" nature, with a "gourmand attack that segues into a layered, enveloping mid-palate" (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate).
Antonio Galloni of Vinous also rated the wine highly at 98 points. He referred to it as "like a drug," with "exotic aromatics, deeply layered fruit, and sublime textures." Galloni remarked on the high quality of the blend, particularly noting that the wine was made from grapes picked after the September rains, ensuring only the best components were used (Vinous).
Jane Anson provided a 96-point review, noting the "fresh floral heights to the aromatics" and the "dark berry fruits and a core of muscles on the palate." She appreciated its "classically-weighted" grip and texture, describing it as "gloriously old school, full of hidden depths and pleasures" (janeanson.com).
Decanter magazine gave the wine another stellar 98 points, highlighting its "beautiful purple colour," vibrant florality, and combination of "grippy Cabernets with fruity, fleshy Merlot." The wine was described as "statuesque and structured with no harshness," offering a "classicism in the very best way" (Decanter).
Jeff Leve from The Wine Cellar Insider rated the wine at an impressive 99 points, praising its "elegance and power." He noted the "layers of chocolate-infused dark pit fruits" and the "long, sensuous finish," attributing the wine's characteristics to the temperate growing season and careful extraction techniques (TheWineCellarInsider.com).
Jeb Dunnuck also awarded the wine 98 points, calling it "aristocratic" and "beautifully textured." He highlighted its "ample black cherry, mulberry, chocolate, and tobacco-like aromatics" and "flawless overall balance" (jebdunnuck.com).
Finally, Lisa Perrotti-Brown from The Wine Independent echoed the high praise with another 99-point score, describing it as "pure latent power" with "firm, rounded tannins and seamless acidity," and a finish with "many, many layers of earth, spice, and floral notes" (The Wine Independent).
In summary, the 2023 Vieux Chateau Certan is a highly celebrated Bordeaux blend, noted for its elegant structure, complex aromatics, and exceptional balance. It is a wine that promises to age gracefully, offering rich and layered experiences for years to come.