1986 Vieux Ch. Certan
By Chateau Vieux Ch. Certan
1986 Vieux Ch. Certan from Chateau Vieux Ch. Certan, Pomerol, Bordeaux
In the pantheon of Bordeaux excellence, there sits a vintage that continues to resonate with both collectors and connoisseurs alike: the 1986 Vieux Ch. Certan from Chateau Vieux Ch. Certan. As a seasoned critic, delving into this venerable vintage is akin to uncovering a time capsule, its contents preserved with remarkable finesse.
A Reflection of Vintage's Virtue
1986 in Pomerol was a year that challenged the vintners, yet culminated in wines endowed with tenacity and vigour. It is this vintage character that sets the 1986 Vieux Ch. Certan apart with its distinguished composition - a bastion of balance and complexity which has reached an apex of maturity in the present day.
The wine opens with an inviting bouquet of black truffle, ripe plum, and a whisper of cedar - hallmarks of stellar Pomerol terroir, enhanced by time's gentle caress. Upon tasting, one is treated to an elaborate tapestry woven with velvety tannins and a symphony of dark berries, subtle earthiness, and spiced cocoa notes that articulate the precision of this wine's crafting.
An Asset Worthy of Connoisseur's Portfolio
Without question, the 1986 Vieux Ch. Certan remains an alluring proposition for the astute wine investor. Its progression in bottle has further burnished its legacy as one of the venerable benchmarks against which other vintages continue to be measured.
The conversation around this wine is steeped not just in admiration for its present state but also for the journey it has undergone - a trajectory marked by care and attentiveness from vine to cellar.
In evaluating its standing as an investment piece, I find the 1986 vintage possesses all the quintessential qualities one seeks: rarity, complexity, and enduring acclaim. It resembles not merely a snapshot of Pomerol at its most challenging but encapsulates a success story borne out of innovation and resilience - making it an emblematic addition to any vintage wine collection.
As we raise our glasses to futures both liquid and financial, let us toast to the ennobled status that the 1986 Vieux Ch. Certan has achieved within these hallowed ranks - where it assuredly belongs amidst the annals of fine vinous investments.
Market price (USD)
$3,260.00
12x75cl
Highest score
91
POP score
242.73
Scores and tasting notes
Certain austerity and Medoc-like firmness has always fooled me with this wine in blind tastings. The color remains a very healthy deep ruby, and the nose of black currants, cherries, spice box, cedar, and mineral clearly seems more Medooc-like than Pomerol. In the mouth, its firm tannin is still present. The wine has a certain youthful vibrancy because of good acidity and outstanding purity. It is a young, still somewhat unformed, but very promising wine on the way up. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2016. Last tasted, 1/02.
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 31 December 2002
Tasted at the Bipin Desai's VCC vertical in Los Angeles. I was quite scathing about this wine in 2002, but here the '86 showed better. A slightly deeper colour than the '85 VCC and the 20% Cabernet Sauvignon is tangible on the sous-bois-dominated nose with touches of smoke and cigar box. It develops nicely in the glass over the course of 30 minutes. The palate is medium-bodied, masculine, dry tannins; firm and rather serious. Obvious notes of tobacco and cedar toward the finish with some attractive Cabernet Franc. Its virtue is that it remains fresh with good delineation, but it is reluctant to impart pleasure. Drink now-2014. Tasted November 2008.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jul 2013