La Gravette de Certan Pomerol 2019 - Second vin

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

Owned for almost a century by the Flemish-born Thienpont family, this estate is one of Pomerol's superstars. Here, Merlot accounts for only 65% of the grape varieties, and excels on the clay soils close to Petrus. The 35% and 40% Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon come from predominantly gravelly soils. These two grape varieties make all the difference over time, allowing the wine to evolve like a great Médoc, a fact unique to Pomerol Vieux Certan, which gains velvety density after ten years or so. Alexandre Thienpont, ably supported by his son Guillaume, is able to play on several registers: ultra-refined tannin, suave texture and aptitude over time, as this cru is one of those that evolve best in Pomerol. The cru's consistency is proverbial. While 2016, 2015, 2011 and 2005 will go down in Pomerol legend, this cru is one success after another, flirting with absolute peaks, which justifies its price tag of over 300 euros.

Decanter

About the wine:

A magnificent nose of sweet spices, hints of licorice and brambly fruit. Excellent clarity on the palate, with a silky texture and lively fruit flavors. Extremely young and bursting with energy. Very fruity, with hints of cherry and cherry pit. Really playful in the best sense of the word with lovely perfumed touches from start to finish, - 2019 was "the year of perfume" according to Alexandre Thienpont. So much to love here. Tasting period: 2024 - 2034.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

La Gravette de Certan 2019 is a fleshy, charming wine brimming with aromas of cherries, minty blackberries and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, ample and generous, it is sensual and succulent, with an enveloping core of fruit, supple tannins and lively acids. It's all Merlot this year, and comes largely from vines planted in 2010, complemented by a parcel planted in 1998.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

Located in the heart of the Certan plateau, on plots of both gravel and clay, Vieux Château Certan boasts an exceptional heritage of old vines. While the blend is classically dominated by Merlot, it's the Cabernets that give it its unique character, although they sometimes penalize it during en primeur tastings - the wine lacks the immediate fleshiness of some of its neighbors. However, it doesn't lose weight during ageing, and even gains in definition after five years. It then ages like a great Medoc, retaining its fabulous freshness. Since 2011, Guillaume Thienpont, oenologist and engineer, has joined his father Alexandre in managing the family estate. The cru has demonstrated exceptional consistency, and recent vintages have earned it a well-deserved third star.

Wine Enthusiast

Jancis Robinson

James Suckling

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

A spicy, highly nuanced and limpid nose of rosemary, iris and peony, evolving towards old rose. Some gentleman farmer accents. The palate is supple, rich and enveloping, yet retains a great deal of fluidity. A grittier texture appears on the finish, which is both elegant and opulent.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

At Vieux Château Certan, every plot has the potential to become a great wine. For example, there are no parcels dedicated to the second wine, while Gravette is made up mainly of the estate's young vines. In 2019, the yield reached 40hl/ha. The bouquet has nuances of cherry and spice. Silky in character, the wine reveals itself slowly, displaying its power with delicacy and precision. What a superb level... and it's "just" the second wine! 2024-2039