1961 Vieux Chateau Certan
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Tasting notes
‘Georges Thienpont describing the vintage spoke sadly about the 29 May frost which destroyed one third of the vineyard. Cold during flowering. Rain at end of July. Warm in August. Summer drought lasted through September. Thick grape skins. Perfect health. Harvest began 27 September. Small crop, one-third of usual yields.’ Shaded ruby. Transparent. Sweet and dense. Round and lively. A bit less concentrated than some left-bank 1961s but very respectable. Very sweet and fresh. For Alexandre Thienpont it was too bretty though no one else found it. Nevertheless they replaced the fermentation vats at VCC after this vintage. Didn’t last that well in the glass. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 1961 Vieux Château Certan was hit by the late spring frosts of May 29 that destroyed one-third of the vines, consequently upon picking on September 27. They were bestowed one-third of the yields with 12.4% alcohol. A repeat of the stunning showing four years ago, it has a more classically styled bouquet with dark black plum, mint and a light chlorine/swimming pool scent, a leitmotif of the 1961 vintage. The palate is fresh with impressive delineation and medium-bodied, yet a core of sweetness seduces the senses. More composed than the stuttering 1959, the finish has a sense of refinement and intensity. This is one of the great 1961 Pomerols and the last vintage under Georges Thienpont's reign. Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove.
This is my fifth bottle of 1961 Vieux Château Certan, the last tasted three years ago. It is a vintage perhaps overlooked by the legendary wines of the post-war era. This example is consistent with my previous note, where I found that the Cabernet rules the roost on the nose: crushed stone, forest floor, mainly black fruit, that hint of chlorophyll, but here, I do not notice the caramel element that I observed on the previous bottle. The palate is fresh and elegant, veering slightly towards red fruit, though still more Cabernet than Merlot. Complex, but maybe not as showstopping as the L'Évangile, more refined and effortless. Tasted at the Pomerol 1961 dinner in Hong Kong.
The 1961 Vieux Château Certan is perhaps one of the unsung stars of this feted growing season. This is the best bottle I have encountered so far. It was a year in which they lost one-third of the crop to frost. It has a stunning nose with brilliant delineation, ebullient red fruit laced with potpourri, minerals, chlorophyll and just a touch of caramel. The palate displays wonderful balance and structure, almost symmetrical thanks to its perfect spine of acidity. Slightly cedary towards the Cabernet-driven finish, this bottle has the audacity to gain weight and density with aeration. Tasted at the Vieux Château Certan dinner at La Trompette.
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.