David Allen MW is visiting Bordeaux for Wine-Searcher to report on the En Primeur campaign for the 2025 vintage. Here he is at Vieux Chateau Certan in the Pomerol appellation.
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As the name suggests this is one of the oldest properties in Pomerol, with the current house built in 1770 by the Certan de May family. It is located next door to Petrus at the top and middle of the Pomerol plateau.
The vineyard is one of the largest single blocks on Bordeaux’s Right Bank, covering 14 hectares (35 acres). Many vines are over 50 years old, with one parcel planted in 1932.
Most plantings are on the Gunz gravel terrace with large pebbles and clay over iron-rich subsoil. These sections are relatively fertile requiring control of canopy vigor. About 30 percent of the property lies on deeper clay soils.
Plantings are Merlot (70 percent) on areas with most clay, Cabernet Franc (25) and a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon where there is most gravel. Blend components of the Grand Vin vary quite considerably across vintages depending on the relative performance of the Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Fermentation takes place in temperature controlled oak vats. Lots destined for the Grand Vin are aged in new French oak for around 22 months. A second wine, La Gravette de Certan is produced from young vines.
To find out more about this wine, its pricing and where to buy it follow this link to Wine-Searcher.com: https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/vieux+certan+pomerol+bordeaux+france
To find out more about this year’s En Primeur campaign visit https://www.wine-searcher.com/en-primeur
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