Vieux Château Certan

Pomerol

1998

Blend

Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine designation

Vieux Château Certan, Red, 1998
Category: Pomerol, Bordeaux

Food pairing

You can enjoy it with duck breast with cherries, rack of lamb in a herb crust, or even a porcini mushroom risotto.
Data sheet

Vieux Château Certan

Pomerol

1998

Tasting notes

The 1998 vintage was unanimously praised for its splendid burgundy color with black highlights. Its still very fruity aromas (morello cherry, fig, prune) against a finely wooded background herald a full, round palate with smooth tannins, bearing the mark of both Merlot and oak. In a word, it is a great traditional Pomerol, very harmonious.

Vineyard

Vineyard size: 14 hectares
Soil composition: Clay-gravel soil

Winemaking

Fermentation container: Traditional, temperature-controlled, large, oak, and stainless-steel vats.
Maceration technique: 3 weeks fermentation at 28°C for gentle, measured extraction.
Aging: Oak Barrels
18 months in new barrels.
Type of oak: French oaks
Bottles produced: 38 400

Heritage in the vineyard

Domaine

Vieux Château Certan is one of Pomerol’s oldest known growths. It was founded in the early 16th century by the Demay family from Scotland. Later, in 1785, it was mentioned on Belleyme’s map as ‘Sertan’. In Pomerol, Certan borrows its name from the estate. In 1858, Charles de Bousquet acquired Vieux Château Certan. He was responsible for the current appearance of the buildings. In 1924, Georges Thienpont, a wine merchant in the Flemish Ardennes, bought the property. This was the starting point for the family’s establishment in the Bordeaux region. The estate is run by his greatson Alexandre Thienpont.
See the domaine

Green in the vineyard

Environmental practices

Adopting sustainable viticulture practices that emphasize organic methods and natural pest management to reduce its environmental impact, similar to the practices used at Chateau Le Pin. Additionally, the estate prioritizes soil health and water conservation, ensuring that its winemaking process supports biodiversity and maintains a harmonious balance with the surrounding ecosystem by not employing weedkillers, fertilizers and the strict minimum of vine treatments.