Vieux Château Certan - Pomerol 1998

Wine Advocate

92 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2001

A fine offering, the 1998 has closed down, but there is no doubting its fabulous potential. The color is a dense purple. The wine reveals high tannin, huge body, and classy black fruits intermixed with minerals, spice box, cedar, and tobacco. A long, persistent, tannic finish gives this majestic effort a closed but formidable personality. Patience will be required. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2030.

Wine Spectator

95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe1/31/2001

A powerful, wonderfully toned red. Like a great javelin-thrower. Lovely mineral, berry and violet aromas with hints of new oak. Full-bodied, with big yet silky tannins and a long, long finish. Best after 2010. 3,000 cases made.

Wine Advocate

94-96 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2000

A prodigious effort, this dense ruby/purple-colored 1998 reveals an explosive bouquet of licorice, cedar, spice box, and jammy blackberry, currant, and cherry fruit. Profoundly concentrated, with great flavor, purity, as well as extraordinary complexity and palate presence, this wine boasts multiple layers of flavor, silky tannin, a thick, viscous texture, and a 45-second finish. The glycerin and huge extract conceal what appear to be high levels of tannin. Unusually for Vieux-Chateau-Certan, this wine contains no Cabernet Franc, being a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, harvested at a low 34 hectoliters per hectare. It is a superstar of the vintage! Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025.

Wine Advocate

94-96 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/1999

An "atypical wine," according to proprietor Thienpont, no Cabernet Franc was utilized in the 1998, a wine with 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Harvested at the optimum time in Pomerol - September 21 - 26, the vineyard produced a measly 34 hectoliters per hectare. In short, the 1998 is the most profound Vieux-Chateau-Certan produced since this estate's great historic period when it made profound wines in 1945, 1947, 1948, 1949, and 1950. It is a massive, black/purple-colored wine with a viscous texture, formidable richness, and high tannin. This powerhouse/blockbuster will require a minimum of 8-10 years of cellaring. It is a mammoth, super-concentrated, compelling effort that will need to be purchased as a future. Bravo! P.S. It seems to me Vieux-Chateau-Certan should produce more "atypical" wines. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2035.