2002 Vieux Chateau Certan
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Tasting notes
70 % Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Made in the blockbuster era but showing the elegance of VCC. ‘From winter to the start of summer, 2002 was marked by mild temperatures and moderate rainfall, with an early budburst in the vines in March followed by an even flowering at the end of May. After a very sunny June, July and August were cool and rainy. Fortunately, fine weather set in from 9 September. Harvest took place between 20 September and 2 October .’ Deep glowing garnet with mature nose. Dusty but intriguing nose. Really nice balance. A ‘drinking wine’! Fragrant. Very emphatic with lots of fruit and fine tannins only just fading. Long, smooth as satin and perfect for drinking now and for the rest of the decade. Long redcurrant finish. A nice surprise. (JR)
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More reviews and scores
The 2002 Vieux Château Certan, picked between September 20 and October 2, has never really been my favorite vintage from this period. Maybe I was a little mean in the past? It offers attractive brambly red fruit, damp loam, and a touch of wild mint. It is rustic and conservative in style yet charming. The palate is fresh on the entry with grainy tannins. Modest in depth, yet with aeration, a sense of brightness emanating from the Merlot begins to emerge, and it has a lovely graphite-tinged finish. This is perfect to drink now rather than cellar. Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove, Belgium.
The 2002 Vieux Château Certan is a vintage that I have never fallen in love with. Having tasted it regularly since primeur, it has a decidedly broody bouquet that is only just satisfactory. The palate is typical of the 2002s, balanced but not particularly engaging, clean but almost anonymous on the finish. Tasted at The Glasshouse restaurant in London.
Mid dark ruby. Dense and savoury and confident. Real structure to this wine. And remarkably little straight sweetness. Tension and vivacity Well done! SO different from the Merlot norm: no obvious sweetness. So long! (JR)
About the producer
The original Château at Vieux Château Certan dates back to around 1770 but the modern history of the estate begins in 1924 - the year that Belgian wine merchant Georges Thienpont purchased the property.