1997 Vieux Ch. Certan from Chateau Vieux Ch. Certan, Pomerol, Bordeaux

The 1997 vintage from acclaimed Chateau Vieux Ch. Certan manifests the year's challenges and triumphs in a bottle. An illustrious representative of the Pomerol appellation, this wine demonstrates the phenomenal adaptation of both vine and vintner to the vicissitudes of Mother Nature.

A Testament to Resilience and Artistry

As is often the case, Bordeaux's climatic temperament in '97 was unpredictable. A cool, wet spring led to flowering difficulties, which culminated in reduced yields for many an estate. The summer brought a desperately needed reprieve, though the heat subdued much later than usual allowing sugars to develop but putting pressure on phenolic maturity—a conundrum deftly navigated by the team at Chateau Vieux Ch. Certan.

Investors and connoisseurs alike are reminded through this vintage that wine investment involves a deep understanding of how indicative years carve distinct mementoes in the life of wines like 1997 Vieux Ch. Certan. Murmurs of damp earth, truffle, and dark fruit are present here, with an underlying complexity borne from a late harvest that defied initial predictions.

Maturity Meets Mystique: A Pomerol to Ponder

The 1997 Vieux Ch. Certan retains a garnet hue—a whisper of its youthful vibrancy—while its aroma suggests a mechanically sound maturity; the tertiary notes are bracing yet harmoniously balanced against softer remnants of plum and blackberry coulis.

On initial palate contact, dried cherry intertwines with overtones of cigar box and a hint of violet pastilles. The acidity threads elegantly through the structured tannins, lending credence to an ageing potential that is poised yet promising.

In assembling a portfolio of fine wines for investment or sheer aesthetic enjoyment, including laudable anomalies such as the 1997 Vieux Ch. Certan bears testament to an astute collector's acumen. It beckons onward into its third decade with grace and panache peculiar to a Pomerol nurtured through an arduous year—a vintage with stories etched into its essence.

Seguing between earthy enticement and suave sophistication, this wine sets “year-based investments” into poignant perspective—a laudatory lexicon where each sip speaks volumes about its storied inception. Thus stands the 1997 Vieux Ch. Certan from Chateau Vieux Ch. Certan as a chronicle not just in viticulture but in sheer resilience against the elements.