Vieux Château Certan is unquestionably one of Pomerol's superstars. Located in the heart of the plateau in Pomerol, it is surrounded by some of the best in the appellation; Petrus, Conseillante, and L'Evangile, amongst others. The wine is made by Alexandre Thienpont, nephew of Jacques at Le Pin, and his son Guillaume. These are two of the most dedicated and talented winemakers to be found in Bordeaux. Thoughtful, reflective and understated, their focus on the vineyard is unparalleled. Unusually for a Pomerol, Vieux Chateau Certan contains a high proportion of Cabernet Franc, which explains its elegance and finesse. But arguably what makes VCC so special is the focus on vine age. The reality is that old vines on the wrong soil, or in the wrong place, make wine no better than young vines – in fact, it can make things worse as old vines can be more susceptible to diseases. But put old vines in the right place and treat them properly, take time to get to know each vine individually, and you have something very special indeed. This is what they have at VCC. Even when replanting the very best sites, the family will wait 20 to 25 years before using that block for the Grand Vin.
