Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2020 Vieux Château Certan is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, picked on the 14th to the 24th of September for the Merlot, then on the 28th and 29th of September for the Cabernet Franc. The pH is 3.77 and the alcohol is 14.5%. Deep purple-black colored, it needs considerable coaxing, swirling and a lot of patience before it finally lets rip an intoxicating perfume of ripe, juicy black plums, Morello cherries, candied violets, black truffles and crushed rocks, giving way to hints of black tea, molten licorice and Sichuan pepper, plus a waft of dusty red soil. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers achingly ripe, silt-like tannins and shimmering freshness that melds with the black fruits and earthy layers with jaw-dropping seamlessness, finishing with layer upon layer of mineral and savory suggestions and, finally, a gorgeous floral whisper. There are going to be two ways to approach this: 1) Just let the remarkably sensual, inexplicable beauty of it wash over you or 2) Try to unravel all those intricate layers and have it blow you mind. Either way, this is simply an incredible achievement—bravo Alexandre and Guillaume Thienpont!

Andreas Larsson - Tasted

Tim Atkin

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

Wine Maniacs

It is a vintage of Cabernet franc and Merlot because the Cabernet Sauvignon did not perform as well. With climate influence together, the results are a wine with tight and dense mouthfeel with packed dark berry fruits (Alexandre Thienpont commented it shares similarity to their 2010 and 2016, which I have not tasted). Tannins are perfectly ripe and polished, showing a somewhat velvety structure of a thick dark chocolate bar. Lots of nuances of aromas but the final structure is not yet clear due to the dominating tannins. Very long finish.

Falstaff

Bright fresh fruit, wild berries, peppery tones, impressively clear, nuanced and intense. Perfectly ripe Cabernet Franc. On the palate ultra silky tannins, creamy, cultivated, perfectly integrated acidity, any tension is juicily resolved. The whole wine is fine, intense and complete, mineral, with integrated alcohol. A wine with density and drive, but completely designed for finesse, very long.

Jeb Dunnuck