A blooming bouquet backed by a splendid core of multi-faceted fruit give this real class, which Left Bank wines often lacked in 2012. The highest proportion of Merlot (87%) since the 1985 vintage, which third-generation owner Alexandre Thienpont described as a ‘glass of perfume’. Still improving. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2035
Tasted by: Sebastian Payne MW (at London, 03 Mar 2022)
Part of Bordeaux 2012: The top-rated wines tasted 10 years on

(87% Merlot/12% Cabernet Franc/1% Cabernet Sauvignon)
Plum, mocha, ripe cherry, white pepper. Crackling with energy and tension, its is juicy and 'croquant'. Palate is wonderful, harmonious, creamy and juicy. The extra hang time (picking started first october) has added polish and complexity. Excellent VCC.

The 2012 Vieux Château Certan is relatively complex on the nose: red fruit, leather, balsam and lavender, well defined and nicely focused. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, a keen thread of acidity, harmonious and nimble yet with a filigree and detailed finish that beckons you back for another sip. This is one of the most sapid 2012 Pomerols. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. Sept 2022

Very distinctive, with a terrific smoldering tobacco and charcoal frame around a core of steeped fig, blackberry and plum fruit. The fruit drapes beautifully across the finish, while the charcoal edge extends on and on, picking up warm stone, chestnut and alder notes along the way. Shows serious grip, and should be among the longest-lived wines of the vintage. Best from 2018 through 2030. 2,830 cases made. – James Molesworth (WineSpectator.com, March 2015)

A top success, the 2012 Vieux Chateau Certan is composed of 87% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep mulberry, plum and black cherry fruit notes intermixed with touches of graphite and subtle smoke lead to a medium-bodied wine with beautiful intensity, well-integrated oak, a velvety opulence and a long, impressively pure finish. A strong effort, it should drink well for 15 or more years.

Alexander Thienpont continues to turn out brilliant wines from this property situated on the high Plateau of Pomerol. The harvest took place between October 1 and 11, producing 33 hectoliters per hectare. The 2012 achieved 13.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.8 and an index of polyphenols as high as the 2010, which was somewhat surprising. It is not nearly as powerful or rich as the 2010 or the 2009. All the old vine parcels of Merlot made it into the final blend. Drink: 2013 - 2028 92-94 points – Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #206, April 2013)

[87M/12CF/1CS] Fresh and vital, and blackberry fragrant; well balanced, nicely concentrated, with a softly fine tannin and a particularly fresh definition; sweetly ripe, vital, richly juicy and fleshy wine, racy and mouthcoating, with a lovely fruit fragrance from the 12% Cabernet Franc, which coats the mouth and perfumes the finish. A deliciously complete middleweight claret with a lot going for it, from the smallest harvest ever, here. 2020-30+ [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2013]

So complex and pure with mushrooms, tobacco, chocolate and berries. Full-bodied yet refined, fresh and lively. The texture is so silky and intense. A real beauty and balance that both make you want to drink it.


A dense VCC with beautiful fruit of chocolate, blackberries, blueberries. Full body and velvety, with lovely richness and balanced. So juicy and yummy already. A round and voluptuous young red. One of the top wines of the vintage but not quite 2011 VCC, which benefited from outstanding Cabernet Franc– jamessuckling.com, Feb 2015

Tasted blind. Lift, fragrance, almost stereotypical Margaux on the nose! Really very attractive indeed. Liquorice and lovely fruit. Throbbing with life. Dry finish. Drink: 2019-2035 – jancisrobinson.com, Jan 2016