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Vieux Château Certan Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2009
100 Points - top Bordeaux A rare 99-point Bordeaux from the heralded 2009 vintage. Extremely limited. 99 Points Robert Parker: "The 2009's nearly 14% natural alcohol, exquisite ripeness, and incredible complex bouquet of Asian spices, fruitcake, licorice, smoke, blackberries and black currants are to die for. A blend of 84% Merlot and the rest equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, it possesses a viscous texture as well as a freshness and vibrancy that are remarkable given the wine’s weight, richness and potential massiveness. This extraordinary effort is one of the finest Vieux Chateau Certans made over the last sixty years. It will undoubtedly shut down in bottle, requiring a decade or more of cellaring. It should keep for 50 years thereafter. Proprietor Thienpont thinks it is a modern day version of the 1948. As I wrote in my barrel tasting notes, the 2009 ranks alongside four of the legendary vintages of Vieux Chateau Certan’s ancient past, 1945, 1947, 1948 and 1950. It is undoubtedly a cleaner wine than those older vintages, and the selection process under proprietor Alexandre Thienpont was far more severe in 2009 than it would have been sixty years ago.. ...As I wrote in my barrel tasting notes, the 2009 ranks alongside four of the legendary vintages of Vieux Chateau Certan’s ancient past, 1945, 1947, 1948 and 1950. It is undoubtedly a cleaner wine than those older vintages, and the selection process under proprietor Alexandre Thienpont was far more severe in 2009 than it would have been sixty years ago." |
Ratings on Delectable
Landon Donley 
Ripe and forward. Aging well...lots of vibrant fruit still present.
Ripe and forward. Aging well...lots of vibrant fruit still present.
9.2
Her Mir Tage
Is the Parker 99-point 2009 VCC Worth Its Price? From a scoring perspective, you might feel slightly disappointed upon opening it, but in terms of price, it likely aligns with expectations. Having previously tasted a Parker 95-100-point Côte-Rôtie La Landonne, I found its complexity and aromatic depth more impressive than this wine—though the 99-point VCC is the highest score this estate has ever received from Parker. After 30 minutes of decanting: The wine showed dark fruit aromas (blackberry), along with primary, secondary, and tertiary notes—cigar box, leather, and truffle-but the tannins were still tight, indicating it wasn’t fully open. After 2 hours of decanting: The wine began to unfold, not with explosive aromas but with a refined, lingering profile.Beyond the initial notes, ripe plum, vanilla, and graphite emerged. However, compared to an older vintage of VCC I’ve tried (which had a rich dark chocolate character), this bottle lacked that particular depth. The tannins turned silky and smooth, making it very approachable, while a savory umami note complemented the medium acidity. The body was beautifully clean and well-structured.
Is the Parker 99-point 2009 VCC Worth Its Price? From a scoring perspective, you might feel slightly disappointed upon opening it, but in terms of price, it likely aligns with expectations. Having previously tasted a Parker 95-100-point Côte-Rôtie La Landonne, I found its complexity and aromatic depth more impressive than this wine—though the 99-point VCC is the highest score this estate has ever received from Parker. After 30 minutes of decanting: The wine showed dark fruit aromas (blackberry), along with primary, secondary, and tertiary notes—cigar box, leather, and truffle-but the tannins were still tight, indicating it wasn’t fully open. After 2 hours of decanting: The wine began to unfold, not with explosive aromas but with a refined, lingering profile.Beyond the initial notes, ripe plum, vanilla, and graphite emerged. However, compared to an older vintage of VCC I’ve tried (which had a rich dark chocolate character), this bottle lacked that particular depth. The tannins turned silky and smooth, making it very approachable, while a savory umami note complemented the medium acidity. The body was beautifully clean and well-structured.
9.2
Nicolas Greinacher
The 2009 Vieux Château Certan is magnificent, bursting from the glass with incense, Asian spices, ripe red and black plum, dried figs and raspberry jam. The warm, sunny vintage shines through in the fruit ripeness and noticeable alcohol, but the fresh acidity holds everything in perfect balance. Full-bodied with ripe and silky tannins, the finish is long and persistent. Drink now until 2040.
The 2009 Vieux Château Certan is magnificent, bursting from the glass with incense, Asian spices, ripe red and black plum, dried figs and raspberry jam. The warm, sunny vintage shines through in the fruit ripeness and noticeable alcohol, but the fresh acidity holds everything in perfect balance. Full-bodied with ripe and silky tannins, the finish is long and persistent. Drink now until 2040.
9.6
Di Ana
In Long Lake, NY
In Long Lake, NY
9.0
Jeroen Koenen
Personal WOTN
Personal WOTN
9.7
John Van Trijp
Riesling & Pomerol Battle Night! Rock on!
Riesling & Pomerol Battle Night! Rock on!
9.9
Evelyn Marin
Amazing showing on such a young Bordeaux. Best experienced in a long time.
Amazing showing on such a young Bordeaux. Best experienced in a long time.
9.7
Jeffrey Lew
Ahhh still one of my favorites. Took about 3-4hrs to open up and was singing. Great juice.
Ahhh still one of my favorites. Took about 3-4hrs to open up and was singing. Great juice.
9.7
Jiga Hitorn
Incredible celebratory wine. Smooth, soft tannins. Chocolate, dark fruit, slightly smokey.
Incredible celebratory wine. Smooth, soft tannins. Chocolate, dark fruit, slightly smokey.
9.7
See all reviews and ratings on Delectable WARNING: DRINKING DISTILLED SPIRITS, BEER, COOLERS, WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK, AND, DURING PREGNANCY, CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.