Vieux Château Certan 2025
Pomerol
Bordeaux, France
Regular price£810.00
/
Arriving: Mid 2028
Shipping duty paid to Mainland UK is charged at a flat rate of £9.99 per consignment and POA for Northern Ireland or Islands.
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| Style: Red | Packaging: OWC |
| ABV: 14.0% | Closure: Cork |
| Organic: No | Drink from: 2032 |
| Biodynamic: No | Drink to: 2060 |
| Grapes: 80% Merlot; 15% Cabernet Franc; 5% Cabernet Sauvignon | |
Critic scores
94-96 RP, 95-97 NM, 93-96 AG, 98-99 JS, 95-97 JD, 96-98 LPB, 98 JA, 98 DC, 98-100 JL, 97-99 DB, 98-99 YB, 96 GM
Critic reviews
"Bursting with aromas of violets, crème de cassis, dark berries and creamy new oak, the 2025 Vieux Château Certan is medium- to full-bodied, rich and concentrated, with a sun-kissed core of fruit, ripe acids and a dense, unctuous palate, concluding with a heady finish. A blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, it is quite serious and structured, with sweet tannin, and it checks in at 14% alcohol."
William Kelley, April 2026, RobertParker.com
"The 2025 Vieux Château Certan was picked from September 8 to 15 at 22 hl/ha and includes two conjoining parcels normally used for the La Gravette. It is raised in two-thirds new oak, the remainder one-year-old. The Merlot sculpts the bouquet with perfumed red cherries, raspberry, cassis and pressed violet scents that gain intensity in the glass. The oak is seamlessly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied, with powdery tannins on the entry. This must be one of the most peppery VCCs that I have tasted, poivre noir from the Cabernet Franc component. Quite structured, with chalky tannins on the finish, almost as if it came from more limestone soil. Not a crowd pleaser like the 2022, but an intellectual, vertical VCC that will flesh out in barrel. 14.01% alcohol."
Neal Martin, May 2026, Vinous.com
"The 2025 Vieux Château Certan is not in the mood to show all its cards. Today, the 2025 shows tons of textural richness and body, but not quite the delineation or energy of the best vintages. Black-toned fruit, gravel, incense, mocha and chocolate are generous in the glass. Ripeness feels pushed to the edge, with fruit perhaps picked a bit later than ideal. But this is a barrel sample, with the wine racked just three weeks prior to my visit. I won't be surprised if this shows better from bottle, but today, this is my impression."
Antonio Galloni, April 2026, Vinous.com
"Fragrant, full of energy, dense with silky tannins, steals up on you as it opens, and this is a gorgeous wine that deserves attention. Chamomile, cumin, cassis, blackberry, cocoa bean, espresso, fresh thyme, tobacco, layered and luscious. This really stayed with me, and I absolutely recommend it, one of the wines of Pomerol in the vintage. Harvest September 8 to 18. Estate signature, 22hl/h yield, 3.75ph. The first year with Guillaume Thienpont fully in charge, although still working alongside his father Alexandre (who began with his own father in 1985)."
Jane Anson, April 2026, JaneAnson.com
"An outstanding VCC this year and one of the picks of Pomerol. Deep aromatics of dark black fruit that stays cool with some liquorice and cola, plus a soft floral fragrance and chocolate creaminess. Inky and really vibrant colour in the glass. Smooth and supple, both creamy and chalky with black fruit and a heady savoury spiced aspect. I love the stickiness – there’s a chew but it remains cool and lifted, nothing heavy, more comforting like a big hug – velvety, charming and almost sensuous. Acidity doesn't stick out, the focus is on complexity and remarkable texture with ripe tannins. Density is there yet it doesn't feel heavy. Ends so cool with lots of cola, a touch of iron and stones, fresh mint and savoury herbaceousness. Absolutely beautiful, hedonistic and so long. 3.75pH. A yield of 22hl/ha. Ageing two thirds new oak, one third one-year-old barrels."
Geogina Hindle, April 2026, Decanter.com
"(Pomerol; 80% Merlot; 15% Cabernet Franc; 5% Cabernet Sauvignon; a final yield of 22 hl/ha; pH 3.75; 14.01% alcohol; tasted in the chai with Guillaume and Alexandre Thienpont). Immediately VCC. That gloss, that sheen, that aerial lift and immediate aromatic purity and clarity of fruit. This year the fruit profile is dark: blackberry, black raspberry, blueberry with loads of crunchy black cherries coming through with a little gentle aeration or just a little time in the glass. Divine on the attack, cooler in the mid-palate than the aromatics lead one to anticipate, with the fruit held quite tightly to a very well-defined central column. The Cabernet Sauvignon brings a little spice and a touch of black pepper. And the wine, already utterly gorgeous, is rendered even more sublime with the arrival of that trace of cedar. The power is measured. As the wine opens it actually seems to become more ample in frame, with the crystalinity evident from the attack even more obvious and even more luminous. The wine is substantial, but the tannins are so soft and gentle that it's really deceptive. This is incredibly clear, pure and lifted again on the finish. One of the most aerial of vintages, despite the density and concentration. Exceptional. Starry."
Colin Hay, April 2026, DrinksBusiness.com
William Kelley, April 2026, RobertParker.com
"The 2025 Vieux Château Certan was picked from September 8 to 15 at 22 hl/ha and includes two conjoining parcels normally used for the La Gravette. It is raised in two-thirds new oak, the remainder one-year-old. The Merlot sculpts the bouquet with perfumed red cherries, raspberry, cassis and pressed violet scents that gain intensity in the glass. The oak is seamlessly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied, with powdery tannins on the entry. This must be one of the most peppery VCCs that I have tasted, poivre noir from the Cabernet Franc component. Quite structured, with chalky tannins on the finish, almost as if it came from more limestone soil. Not a crowd pleaser like the 2022, but an intellectual, vertical VCC that will flesh out in barrel. 14.01% alcohol."
Neal Martin, May 2026, Vinous.com
"The 2025 Vieux Château Certan is not in the mood to show all its cards. Today, the 2025 shows tons of textural richness and body, but not quite the delineation or energy of the best vintages. Black-toned fruit, gravel, incense, mocha and chocolate are generous in the glass. Ripeness feels pushed to the edge, with fruit perhaps picked a bit later than ideal. But this is a barrel sample, with the wine racked just three weeks prior to my visit. I won't be surprised if this shows better from bottle, but today, this is my impression."
Antonio Galloni, April 2026, Vinous.com
"Fragrant, full of energy, dense with silky tannins, steals up on you as it opens, and this is a gorgeous wine that deserves attention. Chamomile, cumin, cassis, blackberry, cocoa bean, espresso, fresh thyme, tobacco, layered and luscious. This really stayed with me, and I absolutely recommend it, one of the wines of Pomerol in the vintage. Harvest September 8 to 18. Estate signature, 22hl/h yield, 3.75ph. The first year with Guillaume Thienpont fully in charge, although still working alongside his father Alexandre (who began with his own father in 1985)."
Jane Anson, April 2026, JaneAnson.com
"An outstanding VCC this year and one of the picks of Pomerol. Deep aromatics of dark black fruit that stays cool with some liquorice and cola, plus a soft floral fragrance and chocolate creaminess. Inky and really vibrant colour in the glass. Smooth and supple, both creamy and chalky with black fruit and a heady savoury spiced aspect. I love the stickiness – there’s a chew but it remains cool and lifted, nothing heavy, more comforting like a big hug – velvety, charming and almost sensuous. Acidity doesn't stick out, the focus is on complexity and remarkable texture with ripe tannins. Density is there yet it doesn't feel heavy. Ends so cool with lots of cola, a touch of iron and stones, fresh mint and savoury herbaceousness. Absolutely beautiful, hedonistic and so long. 3.75pH. A yield of 22hl/ha. Ageing two thirds new oak, one third one-year-old barrels."
Geogina Hindle, April 2026, Decanter.com
"(Pomerol; 80% Merlot; 15% Cabernet Franc; 5% Cabernet Sauvignon; a final yield of 22 hl/ha; pH 3.75; 14.01% alcohol; tasted in the chai with Guillaume and Alexandre Thienpont). Immediately VCC. That gloss, that sheen, that aerial lift and immediate aromatic purity and clarity of fruit. This year the fruit profile is dark: blackberry, black raspberry, blueberry with loads of crunchy black cherries coming through with a little gentle aeration or just a little time in the glass. Divine on the attack, cooler in the mid-palate than the aromatics lead one to anticipate, with the fruit held quite tightly to a very well-defined central column. The Cabernet Sauvignon brings a little spice and a touch of black pepper. And the wine, already utterly gorgeous, is rendered even more sublime with the arrival of that trace of cedar. The power is measured. As the wine opens it actually seems to become more ample in frame, with the crystalinity evident from the attack even more obvious and even more luminous. The wine is substantial, but the tannins are so soft and gentle that it's really deceptive. This is incredibly clear, pure and lifted again on the finish. One of the most aerial of vintages, despite the density and concentration. Exceptional. Starry."
Colin Hay, April 2026, DrinksBusiness.com