Vieux Château Certan – A Classic from Pomerol on the Right Bank

Vieux Château Certan – VCC for short – is one of the most beautiful and historically significant estates of Pomerol on the right bank of the Gironde, situated between Petrus and Le Pin. Pomerol is the only major Bordeaux appellation with no official classification. On 14 hectares planted with some of Pomerol’s oldest vines, VCC produces one of the appellation’s most classically structured wines. The estate has been owned by the Thienpont family since 1924; from the 2025 vintage Guillaume Thienpont leads the estate, continuing to work alongside his father Alexandre. The Grand Vin is complemented by La Gravette de Certan.

History and Ownership

VCC is one of Pomerol’s oldest estates; the name “Sertan” dates back to the 12th century, while “Vieux Château Certan” has existed since 1745. In the 19th century it was regarded as Pomerol’s top estate, before Petrus rose to prominence in the 1870s. Georges Thienpont, a Belgian Bordeaux merchant, acquired the estate in 1924 and introduced the famous pink capsule. After Léon Thienpont, his son Alexandre Thienpont (third generation) took over in 1985 and steered VCC back to the top. His son Guillaume Thienpont returned to Pomerol in 2014; from the 2025 vintage he is fully in charge while continuing to work with his father. In June 2024 the family celebrated 100 years of ownership.

Classification and Status

Pomerol is the only major Bordeaux appellation without an official classification system. Like Petrus and Le Pin, VCC has never been classified – yet it has reclaimed its position as one of Bordeaux’s finest estates, today at the height of its powers.

Terroir and Vineyards

The 14 hectares lie in a single, contiguous plot on one of the highest points of the plateau (around 37 m), divided into 23 parcels that, under Guillaume, are being subdivided ever more finely and monitored parcel by parcel. The soils are a mosaic of heavy clay (predominantly Merlot), gravel-clay sections (Cabernet Franc) and gravel-dominated areas (Cabernet Sauvignon); the iron-rich subsoil shapes the wine’s character. A vineyard audit is carried out every four years.

Grape Varieties and Blend

The vineyard’s grape mix comprises 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, though the annual blend varies considerably: in some years Merlot dominates (for instance 2009, 2010), in others Cabernet Franc comes to the fore – vintages that Alexandre Thienpont particularly prizes for their aromatic persistence. When he took over in 1985, the mix stood at 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec; the Malbec has since disappeared and the Cabernet Sauvignon has been significantly reduced.

Vineyard Work and Vinification

Vinification takes place in the cellars just steps from the ivy-clad château, in 21 tanks of 40 to 125 hectolitres made of stainless steel and oak; the Cabernet Franc is fermented slightly cooler, at around 30°C, than the Merlot (around 32°C). The first stainless-steel tank arrived in 1988, and in 2003 the entire cellar was renovated (climate control, temperature-regulated tanks, insulation). Ageing takes place in around two-thirds new oak.

Grand Vin and Second Wine

The Grand Vin Vieux Château Certan accounts for around 60 per cent of production, while the second wine La Gravette de Certan (made from younger vines up to 25 years old, named after a parcel acquired by Léon Thienpont in the 1950s) makes up around 40 per cent; total production is around 70,000 bottles. The estate’s holdings also include a stake of around 15% in Le Pin.

Style and Flavour Profile

VCC is one of Pomerol’s most classically structured wines and has gained further definition in recent years: exceptionally long-lived, with finesse, depth and complexity in abundance. It is one of those Pomerols in which the celebrated violets – often more like roses – can be discerned, alongside black and blue fruit, graphite, tobacco and chocolate. A wine of almost Burgundian texture and considerable density on the palate.

Notable Vintages

Outstanding recent vintages include 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Among the more mature vintages, 1945–1950, 1998, 2005, 2009 and 2010 are particularly worthwhile – the latter marked by dominant Merlot, while Alexandre particularly prizes the Cabernet Franc-driven years for their aromatic depth.

Ageing Potential

In great vintages the Grand Vin ages for thirty to forty years and generally needs eight to twelve years to open up. La Gravette de Certan is at its peak after five to eight years.

Market Prices and Price Trends

European Wine-Searcher prices for current vintages (retail prices incl. VAT, indicative):

• La Gravette de Certan around €50 to €90
• Vieux Château Certan Grand Vin around €180 to €400 for current vintages; mature top vintages (1998, 2009, 2010, 2018, 2020) command higher prices.

VCC offers great, classic Pomerol with outstanding ageing potential and an excellent reputation.

Buying Guide

The second wine La Gravette de Certan offers an accessible entry point. For the cellar, the Grand Vin in great vintages is the most strategically interesting position – a long-lived, classically structured Pomerol of the highest rank.

FAQ

Position within the Bordeaux Hierarchy

Vieux Château Certan combines a first-class, contiguous terroir with some of Pomerol’s oldest vines and the Thienpont family’s tradition spanning more than a century. As one of the appellation’s most classically structured and long-lived wines – today at its peak – it ranks among the very top tier of the Right Bank.