1948 Vieux Château Certan
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Tasting notes
‘Warm temperatures spilled over from 1947 into 1948 and continued until February when it turned cold. Frost alert in mid-April and then warm and rainy weather at the beginning of May led to an early flowering. Widespread mildew and oidium. Mixed summer weather. Fine, stable weather when harvest began around 22 September.’ Etikhove stock. A tiny bit of VA on the nose and a wine that’s not quite as beautifully integrated as the 1947 but still going really strong with tannins that are a tad dry. A little medicinal. And suffers only from being served alongside 1947! Very long. (JR)
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Robert Parker
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
The 1948 Vieux Château Certan has the unenviable task of following the 1947, yet it acquits itself quite brilliantly. Deep in color, it has a very complex bouquet with incense, menthol, black olives and estuarine scents, developing hints of aniseed with time in the glass. Like previous bottles, the palate is robust and masculine, maybe a little drier on the finish compared with coeval vintages. There is real backbone to this "stout" Pomerol, yet the balance is just stupendous with a compelling eucalyptus-tinged finish that lingers long in the mouth. Georges Thienpont produced a masterful 1948, perhaps the best of that vintage. Tasted at the1940s/50s Pomerol dinner in Hong Kong.
Tasted 8 Times With Consistent Notes The 1948 Vieux-Chateau-Certan is another profoundly great wine from the forgotten vintage of the forties. I have tasted this wine four times in the last year and it was exceptional in each tasting. The opaque dark purple/garnet color is followed by a huge, exotic nose of caramel, sweet cassis, soy sauce, walnuts, and coffee. Thick, chewy, fabulously concentrated flavors with low acidity and high tannin coat the palate. There is amazing glycerin and an elevated alcohol level to this super-concentrated wine. Although fully mature, it exhibits no signs of decline and will easily last for 15-20 more years. Remarkable!
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.