Vieux Chateau Certan

Bordeaux

About the producer

About the producer

The original Château at Vieux Château Certan dates back to around 1770 but the modern history of the estate begins in 1924 - the year that Belgian wine merchant Georges Thienpont purchased the property. The current guardian of this hallowed piece of Pomerol ground is Alexandre Thienpont, Georges' grandson, who took over from his dying father in 1985 and has been joined by his son, Guillaume. Unlike the wine's flamboyant baby pink capsule - a legacy from the 1920s - the father-son duo is much more restrained, allowing the wines to do the talking for them.

In the vineyard

In the vineyard

Merlot may dominate proceedings at neighbouring Château Pétrus but at VCC, it accounts for just 60% of plantings with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon planted on the more gravelly plots of the property. Viticulture is meticulous. When Alexandre arrived, green harvesting was adopted, chaptalisation was forbidden and a second wine was introduced to raise the quality of the Grand Vin. Herbicides have since been abandoned while yields are kept to a low one kilogram per vine, with careful fruit selection before the crop is picked rather than at a sorting table.

In the winery

In the winery

Don't expect fancy technology or gizmos at Vieux Château Certan. Winemaking is thoughtful and traditional here with fermentation in wooden vats before ageing in barrel for 18 months or more. It works perfectly.

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About the producer

The original Château at Vieux Château Certan dates back to around 1770 but the modern history of the estate begins in 1924 - the year that Belgian wine merchant Georges Thienpont purchased the property. The current guardian of this hallowed piece of Pomerol ground is Alexandre Thienpont, Georges' grandson, who took over from his dying father in 1985 and has been joined by his son, Guillaume. Unlike the wine's flamboyant baby pink capsule - a legacy from the 1920s - the father-son duo is much more restrained, allowing the wines to do the talking for them.

In the vineyard

Merlot may dominate proceedings at neighbouring Château Pétrus but at VCC, it accounts for just 60% of plantings with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon planted on the more gravelly plots of the property. Viticulture is meticulous. When Alexandre arrived, green harvesting was adopted, chaptalisation was forbidden and a second wine was introduced to raise the quality of the Grand Vin. Herbicides have since been abandoned while yields are kept to a low one kilogram per vine, with careful fruit selection before the crop is picked rather than at a sorting table.

In the winery

Don't expect fancy technology or gizmos at Vieux Château Certan. Winemaking is thoughtful and traditional here with fermentation in wooden vats before ageing in barrel for 18 months or more. It works perfectly.

Interview with Nicolas Audebert – Chief Winemaker at Chateau Rauzan Segla, Chateau Canon and Chateau Berliquet

The Rauzan Segla 2018 has been met with rave reviews. At what point did you feel you had made a special wine? It is a long process in a technician's mind as the picture of the vintage is getting clearer and clearer from the picking to the “dégustations d’assemblage” (blending tastings). Each vintage gives me a particular emotion, the ...

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Blending is an art form and remains rarely understood amongst us normal wine enthusiasts. The more one thinks about the process and the many variables the more difficult it seems to contemplate. The choices seem endless and the more one tastes the more confusing it seems to get! How can you tell that a certain combination is better than another? ...

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Me: “Paul, are you sure that sample is Merlot, it tastes a lot like Cabernet?” Paul Pontallier: “Yes absolutely it’s a Merlot, amazing eh?” Me: “Paul, are you really sure this isn’t a Cabernet?” Paul Pontallier: “Hmmm, no, not any more. Let me check…” It had started as a simple question in late Nov 2011 when I was at Ch ...

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"Of all the Bordeaux properties owned or managed by the extensive Thienpont clan, VCC (as it is often known) is surely the jewel in the crown."

Stephen Brook

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2017 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£185.00

12x75cl

-

0 Immediate | 18 Marketplace

£2,193.00

12x75cl

-

£2,193.00

0 Immediate | 18 Marketplace

6x75cl

-

0 Immediate | 34 Marketplace

£1,098.00

6x75cl

-

£1,098.00

0 Immediate | 34 Marketplace

3x75cl

-

11 Immediate | 17 Marketplace

£549.00

3x75cl

-

£549.00

11 Immediate | 17 Marketplace

Bts

-

0 Immediate | 9 Marketplace

£185.00

Bts

-

£185.00

0 Immediate | 9 Marketplace

2016 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£1,511.00

6x75cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£1,511.00

6x75cl

-

£1,511.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

2015 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£408.00

3x75cl

-

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

£611.00

3x75cl

-

£611.00

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

Mags

-

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

£408.00

Mags

-

£408.00

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

2014 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£134.00

6x75cl

-

0 Immediate | 2 Marketplace

£796.00

6x75cl

-

£796.00

0 Immediate | 2 Marketplace

Bts

-

0 Immediate | 6 Marketplace

£134.00

Bts

-

£134.00

0 Immediate | 6 Marketplace

2013 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£110.00

12x75cl

-

0 Immediate | 31 Marketplace

£1,293.00

12x75cl

-

£1,293.00

0 Immediate | 31 Marketplace

6x75cl

-

1 Immediate | 24 Marketplace

£645.00

6x75cl

-

£645.00

1 Immediate | 24 Marketplace

Bts

-

0 Immediate | 6 Marketplace

£110.00

Bts

-

£110.00

0 Immediate | 6 Marketplace

2012 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£623.00

12x75cl

-

2 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

£1,247.00

12x75cl

-

£1,247.00

2 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

6x75cl

-

1 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£623.00

6x75cl

-

£623.00

1 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

2011 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£1,161.00

12x75cl

-

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

£1,161.00

12x75cl

-

£1,161.00

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

2010 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£232.00

Bts

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6 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

£232.00

Bts

-

£232.00

6 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

2009 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£2,445.00

12x75cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£2,445.00

12x75cl

-

£2,445.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

2005 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£1,945.00

12x75cl

-

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

Duty Paid

£1,945.00

12x75cl

-

£1,945.00

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

Duty Paid

2001 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£2,599.00

12x75cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£2,599.00

12x75cl

-

£2,599.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

2000 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£3,600.00

12x75cl

-

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

£3,600.00

12x75cl

-

£3,600.00

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

1999 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£154.00

Bts

-

0 Immediate | 2 Marketplace

£154.00

Bts

-

£154.00

0 Immediate | 2 Marketplace

1997 Vieux Chateau Certan (Import Label)

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£90.00

Bts

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0 Immediate | 4 Marketplace

£90.00

Bts

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£90.00

0 Immediate | 4 Marketplace

1997 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£112.00

12x75cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£1,315.00

12x75cl

-

£1,315.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

Bts

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£112.00

Bts

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£112.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1996 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£152.00

Bts

-

0 Immediate | 2 Marketplace

£152.00

Bts

-

£152.00

0 Immediate | 2 Marketplace

1995 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£137.00

Bts

-

0 Immediate | 3 Marketplace

£137.00

Bts

-

£137.00

0 Immediate | 3 Marketplace

1994 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£122.00

Bts

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£122.00

Bts

-

£122.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1993 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£117.00

Bts

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£117.00

Bts

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£117.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1989 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£160.00

Bts

-

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

Duty Paid

£160.00

Bts

-

£160.00

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

Duty Paid

1988 Vieux Chateau Certan (Import Label)

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£142.00

Bts

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£142.00

Bts

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£142.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1986 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£154.00

Bts

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£154.00

Bts

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£154.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1985 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£171.00

Bts

-

0 Immediate | 6 Marketplace

£171.00

Bts

-

£171.00

0 Immediate | 6 Marketplace

1983 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£1,888.00

12x75cl

LA
Label: Damaged

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£1,888.00

12x75cl

LA
Label: Damaged

£1,888.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1981 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£162.00

Mags

-

0 Immediate | 2 Marketplace

£320.00

Mags

-

£320.00

0 Immediate | 2 Marketplace

Bts

-

0 Immediate | 3 Marketplace

£162.00

Bts

-

£162.00

0 Immediate | 3 Marketplace

1979 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£2,605.00

12x75cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£2,605.00

12x75cl

-

£2,605.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1978 Vieux Chateau Certan

Vieux Chateau Certan

From

£147.00

Bts

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£147.00

Bts

-

£147.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

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