Vieux Chateau Certan 2017

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Composed of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2017 Vieux Château Certan sports a deep garnet-purple color. No mincing about, the bouquet absolutely prances out of the glass with stunning scents of candied violets, chocolate-covered cherries, roses and eucalyptus over a core of black plum preserves, mulberries, black raspberries and blueberry pie plus wafts of licorice, iron ore and truffles. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has fantastic balance and expression, with very fine-grained, silt-like tannins and well-knit freshness, finishing with epic length and perfume."

JAMES SUCKLING: "The purity and complexity is so mesmerizing for 2017. Raspberries and black fruit with sweet-tobacco and blood-orange undertones. Medium to full body. The tannins are so polished and pure and push out the edges on the wine. Fresh and pretty. Deep. Needs two or three years to perfect it. Try after 2023."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Possibly the wine of the vintage, the 2017 Vieux Chateau Certan is a blend of 81% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon from the highest point on the Pomerol plateau. Deep purple, with a heavenly bouquet of creme de cassis, blueberries, scorched earth, crushed violets, tobacco, and earth, this beauty is full-bodied, has incredible depth of fruit, ripe, present tannins, integrated acidity, and a great finish. This estate has been on fire of late, and this is undoubtedly a worthy follow-on to the otherworldly 2015 and 2016. It has the depth of fruit and texture to offer pleasure even today, yet a solid 7-8 years of cellaring are warranted, and it should be long-lived. Bravo!"

WINE SPECTATOR: "This delivers a terrific rush of raspberry ganache and steeped plum fruit that holds center stage throughout, flanked by singed apple wood and dried anise notes and backed on the finish by hints of Lapsang souchong tea, warm fruitcake and mineral. A step ahead of the pack in this vintage. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2022 through 2040."

WEINWISSER: "81 % Merlot, 14 % Cabernet Franc, 5 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 14,2 % vol., 37 hl/ha. Sattes Purpurgranat mit violettem Rand. Betörende Alpenheidelbeeren und duftige Veilchen, dahinter Schokopastillen und Cassisnote. Am Gaumen mit seidigem Tannin und genialer Frische unterlegt, was für ein präziser VCC. Im gebündelten Finale ein berauschendes blaubeeriges Konzentrat, das in Verbindung mit der energiegeladenen Rasse nicht enden will – ein grossartiger Pomerol in vollkommener Harmonie mit einem gigantischen Lagerpotenzial. Grossartig!"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Deep in color, the wine pops with the perfume of cocoa, flowers, black plums, truffle and licorice. From there you\'ll find depth and concentration of flavor. The fruit is dark, polished, sensuous, velvety and long. There is vibrancy, florality, old vine intensity and chocolate coated cherries in the finish -- a denouement that goes on for 50 seconds or more. Blending 81% Merlot with 14% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine reached 14.2% alcohol with a pH of 3.75. Picking took place September 12, September 17, September 18 and October 2. It is interesting to note the picking dates and blends are quite similar to 2016. Sixty-seven percent of the harvest was included in the Grand Vin, which is much higher than usual."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, feine Gewürznuancen, ein Hauch von Nelken, schwarze Beeren, schwarze Kirschen, frische Orangenzesten. Am Gaumen komplex, straff, würziger Kern, feste, tragende Tannine, angenehme dunkle Mineralität, extraktsüßer Abgang, salzige Nuancen, große Länge, ein zukünftiger Klassiker des Hauses, gehört mit zu den Weinen des Jahrgangs."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "With a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, this wine is solidly tannic, with intense acidity to balance the ripe berry flavors and structure. The wine is destined for long aging with its structure and powerful tannins. At the same time, juicy acidity gives vibrancy. Drink from 2024."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Deep ruby colour. Dried cherry and leathery spice on the nose here. Kirsch. Full bodied but keeping some restraint. Powerful – smoky, rich – and yet highly refined. Underneath this sweetness are cooler hedgerow, graphite and cedar tones. Mouth-coating, chewy tannins provide a deep and dense structure. This is earthy but has really good drive. Long and expansive."

DECANTER: "Even at three years old the aromatics are rich and fairly open, with touches of grilled cedar and dark berry fruits. Enjoyable if less powerful than many other years from this estate, given lift and focus by tight rosemary spice and tobacco leaf through the finish. This has a more exuberant feel than when just bottled while maintaining the pure focus to the fruit. No frost here, giving a pretty much normal yield of 37hl/ha. 3.75pH Drinking Window 2022 - 2038"