Vieux Chateau Certan 1945 (1.5L)

100 VM / 100 JS / 98 WCI / 19.5 JR

The 1945 Vieux Château Certan is a vintage that I have been fortunate to encounter twice before, and this bottled had been recorked at the château. This year, frosts on April 30 decimated the vineyard so that 60% was lost before hail, mildew and drought. It wasn't an easy growing season, but the harvesters went out on September 15. The 1945 is deep in color with light bricking on the rim. The bouquet is heavenly. Fabulous delineation, dark cherries, touches of camphor, star anis and Seville orange marmalade unfold with every swirl of the glass. The palate is a showstopper. Amazing concentration even after so many years, filigree tannins, layers of red fruit laced with white pepper, sage and traces of marmalade. There's profound complexity on the finish and extraordinary length on the aftertaste. Ineffably brilliant. Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove. July 2024 -- Neal Martin, Vinous Media

Dense yet bright garnet in the glass. On the nose this is very restrained and fresh, full of pot pourri and anise, vibrant minerality and prune and earthy tones, as well as gardenia and helichrysum, 90% cocoa chocolate and a super, subtle leather-balsamic tone with a sort of minty depth. Relaxed attack with fine yet firm tannins, good extraction on the mid-palate, full body and long, integrated acidity. Finishes with black-pepper spice. Expansive, with a tight-knit, smoky aftertaste. Power with grace. Still structured. Magic vintage. Drink or hold. July 2024 --James Suckling

Tasted at the Bipin Desai VCC vertical in Los Angeles. Apparently this was undrinkable for the first fifteen years of its life but now it flirts with perfection. It has an unbelievably deep, almost opaque garnet colour, incredibly intense on the nose with blackberry, cassis, iodine and liquorices. There is an odd Wellington boot aroma as well! The palate is full-bodied with amazing concentration, firm structure, great weight with almost chewy tannins. Black plum, liquorices, black olive a hint of soy and a Burgundian, silky smooth texture. Supreme focus with immense delineation on the finish that seems to go on forever and ever, with mint lingering seductively in the mouth. Sublime. - Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate

The incredible potpourri nose, coupled with dried tobacco leaves, roses, dark strawberries, truffles, leafy herbs, and spicy red plums hit all the right notes. Balanced, fresh, long, and complex, finishing with a rustic, elegance, truffle, earth, and red fruits that really hold your focus. A true legend in the glass. I may never see this again, but the memory is impossible to forget. If perfectly well you can drink from 2022-2030.-Jeff Leve, Wine Cellar Insider, tasted 10/22

What a joy to have such a fabulous vintage to celebrate the end of the war! Heavy snow at the beginning of the year, followed by a dry period until March. April was unseasonably hot, which allowed the vines to grow precociously until frosts on April 30th decimated up to 60% of the crop to be followed by hail, mildew, and summer drought up to the 13 September harvest date, when picking begun under perfect conditions.’ Recorked and kept in excellent condition by a friend of the Thienponts. Roy Richards was accused of having drunk the family stocks during Etikhove visits!