Vieux Château Certan 2018 Pomerol Bordeaux | 3x Magnum

Critics’ Scores

Universal Acclaim

The 2018 vintage has earned extraordinary recognition from the world’s most respected wine critics, confirming its status as one of the estate’s greatest achievements. Indeed, the scores reflect both the exceptional quality of this particular wine and the overall triumph of the 2018 vintage in Pomerol.

The Estate

Vieux Château Certan 2018 — Pomerol’s Aristocratic Soul

Vieux Château Certan stands among Pomerol’s most revered estates, a property whose history stretches back to the 16th century. Indeed, while Pétrus commands headlines, connoisseurs have long recognized VCC as the appellation’s most classical expression—a wine of extraordinary elegance rather than opulent power. The Thienpont family acquired the estate in 1924, and today Alexandre Thienpont upholds this legacy with unwavering dedication to quality, farming just 14 hectares of exceptional gravelly clay soils adjacent to Pétrus.

Moreover, the 2018 vintage marks a pinnacle in the château’s modern era, widely considered one of the finest wines ever produced here. This particular lot of three magnums represents an exceptional opportunity for collectors seeking optimal ageing formats, as magnums develop more gracefully over decades in the cellar.

This Lot

Available as 3 magnums — ideal for collectors and long-term cellaring.

Terroir & Grapes

Pomerol’s Gravelly Heights

The vineyard occupies Pomerol’s privileged central plateau, where deep gravel beds over iron-rich clay subsoils create wines of remarkable finesse and mineral complexity. Unlike most Pomerol estates that lean heavily on Merlot, Vieux Château Certan maintains an unusually high proportion of Cabernet Franc—a nod to its historical ties and the gravelly terroir that suits this noble variety. The 2018 blend comprises 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, a composition that brilliantly balances Pomerol’s voluptuous fruit with Left Bank structure and aromatic complexity.

Vinification & Ageing

Precision and Restraint

Alexandre Thienpont conducts fermentation in temperature-controlled concrete vats, allowing each parcel to express its individual character before assemblage. Furthermore, the estate employs gentle extraction techniques that prioritize elegance over power, a philosophy reflected in the wine’s silky tannin structure. The 2018 was matured in French oak barrels—approximately 50% new—for 18 months, allowing the wine to integrate its oak seamlessly while preserving the purity of fruit and terroir expression.

Consequently, the wine achieves perfect harmony between concentration and finesse, with oak serving as a supporting framework rather than dominating the aromatic profile. The resulting 14.4% alcohol sits gracefully within the wine’s architecture, never overwhelming its essential balance.

Vintage Character

The 2018 Pomerol Triumph

The 2018 vintage represents one of the great successes in recent Pomerol history, a year that delivered exceptional wines across the appellation. Although one of the warmest and driest late summers on record threatened overripeness, carefully managed vineyards achieved remarkable results. The top Pomerols exhibit beautiful depth of ripe fruit alongside polished, powerful tannins, while impressive underlying freshness balances the high alcohol levels. Indeed, the finest 2018s are concentrated and perfumed, with refreshing acidity that promises extraordinary longevity in the cellar.

Tasting Notes

A Kaleidoscope of Complexity

Vieux Château Certan 2018 reveals an extraordinary aromatic spectrum, unfolding layers of red cherry, blackcurrant, and wild blueberry alongside intoxicating notes of white truffle and spring violets. Moreover, the palate displays gorgeous concentration without heaviness, building ultra-fine tannins that coat the mouth with silky precision. Crushed rock minerality threads through the wine’s core, while tobacco leaf and graphite nuances add classical Bordeaux complexity. The oak integration is flawless—you sense the wine’s structure rather than tasting wood. Furthermore, there’s not a hard edge anywhere, just seamless harmony from attack to the incredibly persistent finish. This is Pomerol aristocracy at its most refined, a wine that whispers rather than shouts yet possesses breathtaking depth.

Service & Pairing

For the Long Cellar

While approachable in its youth with generous decanting, this wine truly warrants patience—allow 7-8 years of bottle age for the tannins to fully integrate and the complex aromatics to blossom. Nevertheless, for those unable to resist, decant for at least two hours to reveal the wine’s kaleidoscopic character. The magnum format offers particular advantages for long-term cellaring, developing more gracefully than standard bottles over decades. Pair this aristocratic Pomerol with dishes that match its elegance: roasted game birds such as wood pigeon or pheasant, beef wellington with truffle sauce, or aged Comté cheese. Moreover, the wine’s mineral backbone and silky tannins make it an exceptional companion for wild mushroom risotto or slow-braised lamb shoulder with rosemary.

— Discover —

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