Pomerol has no classification, no grand châteaux to speak of, and estates measured in a handful of hectares each. Vieux Château Certan sits on the plateau at its centre, a few hundred metres from Pétrus, and has belonged to the Thienpont family — Belgian merchants — since 1924. Alexandre Thienpont took charge of the winemaking in 1985, so this bottle comes from the opening vintage of a tenure that ran for the next three decades.
The vineyard is unusual for the appellation. Where its neighbours plant Merlot almost exclusively on heavy clay, Certan has gravel in the mix and a serious proportion of Cabernet Franc, giving a wine that is perfumed and upright where Pomerol is normally plush.
1985 was warm and dry enough to ripen the Merlot fully, and it produced a Certan of real charm. Small Pomerol estates never made these wines in quantity, and forty years on there are not many bottles about.
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Producer: Vieux Château Certan
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Vintage: 1985
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Appellation: Pomerol AOC
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Format: 75cl
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Region: Bordeaux, France
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Style: Red
Where it is likely to be now. Merlot-based wines of this age are delicate, so expect something mature and fragrant that will not hold long once opened, and no honest merchant can guarantee condition at forty-one years.
Who it suits. For a couple married in 1985 reaching their forty-first anniversary, particularly if one of them already knows Pomerol.
Condition. At some point the label was coated in a thin protective wax, a normal cellar practice to stop damp marking the paper, and it affects only the outside of the bottle.
Provenance. Bought to order from a professional European merchant. We check fill, label and capsule when the bottle reaches us and photograph it before it ships.
Delivered in 7 to 10 working days, tracked. Transit cover can be added at checkout.
Sold as a collectible item, as seen. No guarantee is given on drinkability.
