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1 imperial per lot
Details
Vieux-Château-Certan
It was fairly late in my career that I got to know VCC well. Alexandre Thienpont's father Geroges had bought the property in 1924 and since he was a wine négociant in Belgium, most of his wines were sold in that country and it wasn't until the 80s that a more international distribution was encouraged, and my excuse to go to châteaux to taste was always that I wanted to buy and sell the wines !
I had already been tremendously impressed by the finesse of the wines but from afar, either buying bottles or drinking them in restaurants, of which the real eye-opener for me was a dinner Chez Darroze in Villeneuve-de-Marsan, a fine restaurant at the time very close to my in-laws. We had duck with a bottle of 1964 or was it 1966 ? It was totally beguiling, all silk and charm yet full of the Cabernet Franc kind of structure to which I later became accustomed when I started going to the château regularly to taste.
Alexandre, Georges's son, and now Alexandre's son Guillaume, are totally committed to this style of wine. Alexandre loves people to talk about his wines but beware if you talk nonsense or platitudes. He knows his wines perfectly, having crafted them all on his own and you need to keep on your toes.
The vineyard is planted 65% to Merlot but oftentimes, it's the Cabernet that shines through by its particularly reserved flavours and discreet structure. The hottest years seem to be the best Merlot-dominated ones : '05, '09, ''10 and '16 ; the cooler ones the Cabernet Franc years : '04, '06, '08, '11 and '14. The '03 is the exception to all this because the no-compromise Alexandre didn't want roasted Merlot grapes in his blend, so there we have a very hot vintage that is at record levels of Cab Franc.
Today we offer :
the '90, still a full-styled but graceful wine resembling a great Côte de Nuits
the '95, which started out a little hard in its tannins but which has now enveloped them with some superbly ripe fruit
the '98, incredibly densely packed with tremendously ripe Merlot
the '99, a little lighter but very fine ly constructed
the '00, lusher and plusher. I am hoping it will finally show the restraint and finesse through the concentration that I love in VCC.
Vieux-Château-Certan 1990
Pomerol
In original wooden case. Slightly corroded capsule. Good appearance. Level: into-neck
1 imperial per lot
It was fairly late in my career that I got to know VCC well. Alexandre Thienpont's father Geroges had bought the property in 1924 and since he was a wine négociant in Belgium, most of his wines were sold in that country and it wasn't until the 80s that a more international distribution was encouraged, and my excuse to go to châteaux to taste was always that I wanted to buy and sell the wines !
I had already been tremendously impressed by the finesse of the wines but from afar, either buying bottles or drinking them in restaurants, of which the real eye-opener for me was a dinner Chez Darroze in Villeneuve-de-Marsan, a fine restaurant at the time very close to my in-laws. We had duck with a bottle of 1964 or was it 1966 ? It was totally beguiling, all silk and charm yet full of the Cabernet Franc kind of structure to which I later became accustomed when I started going to the château regularly to taste.
Alexandre, Georges's son, and now Alexandre's son Guillaume, are totally committed to this style of wine. Alexandre loves people to talk about his wines but beware if you talk nonsense or platitudes. He knows his wines perfectly, having crafted them all on his own and you need to keep on your toes.
The vineyard is planted 65% to Merlot but oftentimes, it's the Cabernet that shines through by its particularly reserved flavours and discreet structure. The hottest years seem to be the best Merlot-dominated ones : '05, '09, ''10 and '16 ; the cooler ones the Cabernet Franc years : '04, '06, '08, '11 and '14. The '03 is the exception to all this because the no-compromise Alexandre didn't want roasted Merlot grapes in his blend, so there we have a very hot vintage that is at record levels of Cab Franc.
Today we offer :
the '90, still a full-styled but graceful wine resembling a great Côte de Nuits
the '95, which started out a little hard in its tannins but which has now enveloped them with some superbly ripe fruit
the '98, incredibly densely packed with tremendously ripe Merlot
the '99, a little lighter but very fine ly constructed
the '00, lusher and plusher. I am hoping it will finally show the restraint and finesse through the concentration that I love in VCC.
Vieux-Château-Certan 1990
Pomerol
In original wooden case. Slightly corroded capsule. Good appearance. Level: into-neck
1 imperial per lot
Special notice
On lots marked with an + in the catalogue, VAT will be charged at 7.7% on both the premium as well as the hammer price.
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