2008Data sheet

The winter was mild and dry during the first two months of the year, followed by a relatively wet spring. After a mixed weather pattern during the summer, a cool, dry atmosphere, favouring a slow ripening of the grapes and the preservation of fruit aroma, allowed us to put back the picking dates until the end of September and beginning of October. The actual harvesting dates were from 28th September to 4th October.

The final blend was 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. With excellent colour, fruit flavour, aromatic expression and texture, the 2008 showed very promising potential. The yield was around 34 hectolitres by hectare, which is a small crop.

Today, after 13 months’ ageing in new oak barrels, two-thirds of which were new, and after bottling in May 2010, the 2008 is coming through as a vintage with complexity and great length on the palate. 

This is a classic Vieux Château Certan; that is to say, very Cabernet Franc, just like the 2006.

"It will be a long-ageing wine, the first bottles of which can be enjoyed in five to eight years’ time, and the rest of which may be cellared a good twelve years or so more."

Alexandre Thienpont