One of the unquestioned stars of the vintage, the 2014 Vieux Château Certan soars out of the glass with aromatic intensity, bright acids and finely sculpted fruit. Cool, intense but very much reserved in the style of the year, the 2014 exudes class. The flavors are intense and vibrant throughout. Dark red and purplish-hued stone fruit, lavender, mint and spice lead into the striking finish. The 2014 is just as impressive today as it was from barrel. As always, Vieux Certan has the rare ability to confer power without excess weight. The 2014 is a magical bottle. Readers who can find it should not hesitate. The blend is back to classic proportions of 80 % Merlot and 20 % Cabernet Franc.

The 2014 Vieux Château Certan is glorious stuff that has more personality and sexiness than just about every other wine in the vintage. Kirsch, black cherries, flowers, forest floor and exotic spice characteristics all emerge from this ethereally textured, elegant, beautifully rich 2014 that has notable acidity, sweet tannin, and a great finish. With an almost Burgundian elegance and purity, it’s already drinking nicely, but will be even better in another 3-4 years and keep for two decades. Feb 2018

Tune in! The new Jane Anson Wine Podcast is live. Check out episode 13: Freedom, Family & Mountain Wines: Redefining Argentina

This is so gorgeous with black truffles, stones and subtle blackberries. Black mushrooms, too. Full-bodied, so dense and deep with very silky tannins and an endless finish. The density of fruit is superb. Truly irresistible. Drink in 2022 but already wonderful to drink.

The 2014 Vieux-Château Certan has an attractive bouquet with blackberry, clove and truffle aromas, nicely defined though it seems to have closed up a little since I tasted it just after bottling. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and a keen thread of acidity. The palate shows the real potential, more than the nose at the moment. There is wondrous linearity and precision and it finishes with haunting grace. At this tasting I marked this lower than I wanted because it just continuously improved in the glass after I announced my score to the group. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. - vinous.com, March 2018

A complete charmer, the wine is medium/full bodied, elegant, fresh, soft, silky and polished. You can already discern notes of truffle in the nose, and the purity in the red plums and dark cherries on the palate is just great. Give this until 2024 and you'll be set! Tasted July 2018

Enjoyably full of rich dark fruits, pretty serious in feel and in tannic hold that supports without crushing the fruit. Overall the layers are starting to peel back and show cassis, blackberry, earth, cigar box and tobacco smoke. Plenty of pleasure on offer here. Drinking Window: 2022 - 2038
Tasted by: Jane Anson (at Pomerol, 16 Nov 2020)
Part of Anson: Comparing six Pomerol châteaux in every vintage from 2012 to 2017

Tasted blind. Mature garnet colour. Lifted combination of sweet senescent red fruits and a leafy quality. Quite leafy and with just enough depth of fruit on the mid palate for the longer term yet it’s fresh and appealing now. (JH)

Tasted blind. Bloody and savoury. Chewy and lots of pinched tannin. Some veginess. Mean and tart at the moment. (JR)