93pts Vinous
The 2019 La Gravette de Certan, 100% Merlot in this vintage, is a total knock-out. Pliant and racy in the glass, with terrific fruit density, the 2019 dazzles right out of the gate with its alluring personality. Bright acids and supple tannins add to its immeasurable appeal. The Gravette, VCC’s young-vine, second wine, is a total star. Drinking Window: 2024-2039

– ByAntonio GallonionJanuary 2022

The second wine of the iconic Chteau Vieux Chteau Certan, La Gravette de Certan showcases the precision, elegance, and pedigree of Pomerol in a beautifully approachable style.

92pts Wine Advocate
The 2019 La Gravette de Certan is a fleshy, charming wine, bursting with aromas of cherries, minty blackberries and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, ample and giving, it’s sensual and succulent, with an enveloping core of fruit, supple tannins and lively acids. It’s entirely composed of Merlot this year and largely derived from vines planted in 2010, supplemented by a plot planted in 1998.

This 14-hectare estate, divided into some 23 distinct parcels, has produced one of the greatest wines of Bordeaux’s 2019 vintage. Alexandre Thienpont (who took the reins in 1986) and his thoughtful son Guillaume (who is following in his father’s footsteps) work simply but attentively: there’s no smoke nor mirrors at this address, just a terrific terroir (composed of around one-third gravel soils, one third clay-gravel soils and one-third clay soils), planted with some 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and winemaking that brings out its best. After classical macerations, the new wines mature in some 65% new oak from Sguin Moreau and Sylvain for 18 months. The second wine, La Gravette de Certan, is entirely Merlot, mostly from vines planted in 2010 along with a small plot dating back to 1998.

Vineyard & Terroir:
Sourced from younger vines and select parcels within the VCC estate, the vineyards sit on the renowned Pomerol plateau where clay and gravel soils deliver both power and finesse. Merlot dominates, supported by Cabernet Franc, capturing the unique signature of this legendary terroir.

Vinification & Technical Notes:

• Blend: ~70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon

• Aging: 1618 months in French oak, partly new

• Alcohol: ~14.5% ABV

Tasting Notes:
The 2019 vintage is remarkably pure and vibrant, with lifted aromatics of ripe plum, black cherry, and cassis layered with floral notes, graphite, and a hint of cocoa. On the palate, it is medium-bodied yet concentrated, with refined tannins and a seamless balance between freshness and depth. The finish is long, silky, and mineral-drivenechoing the grace of its elder sibling while offering earlier accessibility.

Style & Cellaring:
Elegant and expressive in its youth, Chteau La Gravette de Certan 2019 will drink beautifully from 2024 onward, with potential to evolve gracefully for 1015 years.