1986 Vieux Chateau Certan
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Tasting notes
Alexandre Thienpont’s first vintage; he insisted on green harvest. ‘Cold winter followed by dry and hot weather from May throughout the summer. Flowering under good conditions was around 18 June. Dry conditions until mid September when torrential rain swelled the grapes and increased the yields. The tanks were “bleeded” for the first time to try to increase the skin-juice ratio.’ Most unfortunately both bottles were badly affected by TCA. (JR)
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The 1986 Vieux Château Certan marks the debut of Alexandre Thienpont, who cropped-thinned, as it was potentially twice the normal yield, to the chagrin of co-owners Georges and Gérard Thienpont. It was picked by workers from Château Pavie as it was a late harvest and his usual pickers had departed. It saw the first saignée of vats. Unfortunately, in this era, the château was plagued by TCA. Both bottles are found to be corked. Caveat emptor. Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove.
The 1986 Vieux Château Certan was the first vintage whereby Alexandre Thienpont felt that he had control of the vineyard and the winemaking. It has a very Cabernet-driven bouquet, to the extent that I actually miss the contribution of the Merlot - just a little one-dimensional. The palate is better with grainy tannins, hints of soy infusing the red fruit, quite masculine with perhaps a finish that needs more charm. Tasted at the Vieux Château Certan dinner at La Trompette.
Certain austerity and Medoc-like firmness has always fooled me with this wine in blind tastings. The color remains a very healthy deep ruby, and the nose of black currants, cherries, spice box, cedar, and mineral clearly seems more Medooc-like than Pomerol. In the mouth, its firm tannin is still present. The wine has a certain youthful vibrancy because of good acidity and outstanding purity. It is a young, still somewhat unformed, but very promising wine on the way up. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2016. Last tasted, 1/02.
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.