Vieux Château Certan

Vieux Château Certan's wines are beautifully balanced and are widely regarded as some of the finest in Bordeaux. While the estate is unclassified (as with Pomerol on the whole) it has long been recognised among the great growths of the region, by some accounts comparable to neighbouring estate Château Pétrus. The wine is made by Alexandre Thienpont, the nephew of Jacques at Le Pin who took over in 1985 and has been on his best form since 1998.

The estate covers a relatively small 14 hectares (35 acres) in one single block, surrounded by some of the best in the appellation; Petrus, Conseillante, Le Pin and L'Evangile. It's planted out to 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and is divided into 23 different parcels, allowing the estate to achieve the best possible blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc depending on vintage conditions.

Vieux Château Certan is often ranked by international tasting panels and the world's press among the finest wines. The second wine produced is La Gravette de Certan.