Vieux Chateau Certan 2015

JAMES SUCKLING: JAMES SUCKLING:"The blackberries, blueberries, oyster shell and violets are so mesmerizing. Full-bodied, focused and deep. It takes you to another space and plane. Dried flowers and dark fruit. The tannins are perfectly crafted. Keeps going as you taste it. Drink in 2023 but why wait?"

JEB DUNNUCK: JEB DUNNUCK:"I was able to taste both the 2015 and 2016 grand vins, and these are heavenly, magical wines that could not be any better. Starting with the 2015 Vieux Château Certan, it shows the opulent, flamboyant style of the vintage to a T and reveals a saturated purple/ruby color, a monster bouquet of blackberries, tobacco, kirsch, dried spices, and loamy earth, full-bodied richness, sweet tannins, and a finish that won’t quit. A thrill a minute, wine doesn’t get any better, and I only wish every reader could taste this beauty. Drink it any time over the coming 30 years or more."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Cherry blossoms, licorice, truffle, licorice, cherry liqueur and cocoa have no trouble getting noticed. But it is the voluptuous, decadent, opulent, unctuous mouth feel, with its velvet textures and 60 second finish that steals the show. A candidate for wine of the vintage, this is a future legend in the making."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: THE WINEADVOCATE:"Blended of 80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Vieux Chateau Certan opens with profound notes of blueberry compote, dried mulberries, black forest cake, licorice, violets and garrigue with wafts of black truffles, sandalwood and rose hips. Medium to full-bodied, very earthy/savory and beautifully layered with very plush yet present tannins, it offers lovely freshness and a very long minerally finish. So very Pomerol!"

FALSTAFF: FALSTAFF:"Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, mineralisch unterlegtes dunkles Waldbeerkonfit, Brombeeren, Gewürze, etwas Vanille, florale Akzente, ein Hauch von Nougat im Hintergrund. Komplex, extraktsüße Textur, straff und frisch strukturiert, perfekt gereifte Tannine, sehr präzise, ein eleganter großer Wein mit überzeugender Länge, lange anhaltender Fruchtnachhall, sicheres Reifepotenzial, einmal mehr auf absolutem Topniveau."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: WINE ENTHUSIAST:"Barrel Sample. This is a beautifully fragrant wine that has power along with an elegant acidity. It has wonderful juiciness that cuts through any of the tannins to give great freshness, a silky texture and fruitiness at the end. Perfumed and stylish, this is a very fine wine."

WEINWISSER: WEINWISSER:"80 % Merlot, 19 % Cabernet Franc, 1 % Cabernet Sauvignon. 42 hl/h. Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aussen. Der erste Nasenansatz hinterlässt deutlich florale Eindrücke, dahinter Pflaumen, Holunder und Heidelbeeren und eine schwarze Pfefferwürze aufweisend. Wunderbar anschmiegsamer Gaumen, veloursartige Textur, im Innern mit feiner Rasse im Extrakt. Bei längerem Gaumenkontakt zeigt er dann doch noch eine verlangende und potenzialbietende Adstringenz. Das Finale ist fast nur noch schwarzbeerig. Ein grosser, möglicherweise bald einmal legendärer Vieux Château Certan. Die 14,6 Volumenprozent gelten für einen VCC schon eher als Ausnahmefall."

WINE SPECTATOR: WINESPECTATOR:"Expressive and alluring aromas of warm plum reduction and boysenberry puree lead off here, followed by fleshy, seamlessly layered notes of blackberry, black currant, melted black licorice and smoldering tobacco. Shows a lovely tug of dark earth through the finish without sacrificing a sense of polish or giving ground to the waves of fruit. Displays terrific latent energy through the finish. Best from 2023 through 2040."

DECANTER: DECANTER:"Aromatics here are a little more evolved than with the 2016, showing tar notes, Liquorice Allsorts, anise, raspberry and blackberry fruits. This is a good quality wine with impact and character and the subtle complex shades of flavour that VCC does so well. Really does need time in the glass, suggesting it will hit full stride in another two or three years."

JANCIS ROBINSON: JANCIS ROBINSON:"Tasted blind. Not especially aromatic but there’s a lot underneath. Serious stuff with great richness but great structure too. Hint of mint."