Vieux Château Certan 2017

Such was the quality in 2017 that the Cabernet Sauvignon, unusually for Pomerol, shone and a batch of grapes from younger vines was included in the final blend of the Grand Vin. This glorious 2017 release received six top scores, Wine Advocate describing its "stunnning scents of candied violets, chocolate covered cherries, roses and eucalyptus over a core of black plum preserves, mulberries, black raspberries and blueberry pie plus wafts of licorice, iron ore and truffles". The power of the fruit was such that 70% new oak barrels were used in the ageing. Head of the château Guillaume Thienpont remarked, "we're back to Bordeaux in 2017", referring to a more classic style thanks to a long, slow ripening cycle. A wine that'll age for decades.