2010Data sheet

Everything came together perfectly this year to make the vintage a success. A very cool and sufficiently wet winter was followed by a lovely, bright and sunny start to the spring that brought about a fast and even budding. Summer was hot and dry but with cool nights; and then by the end of the growing season the dry weather had caused substantial water deficit in the soils.

It was a concise year, with low yields: small berries that were well nourished by perfectly healthy vine canopies with maximum photosynthesis potential.

2010 is a ripe, tannic, balanced wine with amazing fruit and wonderful acidity. The Merlot is dense, vinous, suave, full, and with breed. It simply rolls around the palate.

The smaller proportion of Cabernet Franc that has been selected for the first wine is all lace-like in texture, ripe, complex, flavoursome and very lingering on the palate. The Cabernet Sauvignon is lively, delicious to taste and savoury. Even in such a small proportion, it brings that touch of freshness that is necessary in the final blend.

The 2010 Vieux Château Certan, with a yield of slightly over 35 hectolitres per hectare, resembles in its blend composition the excellent 1998 or, going back much further, the legendary 1950. 

"The 2010 is a great long-ageing wine, the first bottles of which may be enjoyed in ten years’ time, whilst the rest can be kept a good twenty years or so more."

Alexandre Thienpont