2014 Vieux Chateau Certan, Pomerol

Alexandre Thienpont’s management of Vieux Château Certan centers on a precise, parcel-by-parcel approach that leverages the estate’s unique position atop the Pomerol plateau. The vineyard’s complex intersection of clay and gravel soils allows for a significant integration of Cabernet Franc, providing a structural framework and aromatic lift rarely found in the appellation. In 2014, a cool growing season followed by a warm, dry Indian summer facilitated deep phenolic ripeness while maintaining high levels of natural acidity. This climatic arc produced a wine defined by its verticality and tension, featuring fine-grained tannins and a dense mid-palate that remains balanced by a distinct mineral nerve. The resulting profile is one of classical proportion and architectural clarity, reflecting the technical restraint and terroir-driven focus characteristic of the Thienpont family.