The Best Buy in Pomerol?
Vieux Chateau Certan's
2010 La Gravette de Certan
The Spirit of the 1970 VVC Lives...
2010 Bordeaux produced wines that are built for the ages. This is a vintage that harks back to the wines of old.
This is a special vintage for Bordeaux.
As of last week all the major critics had weighed in on the vintage and the consensus is that the highs of the vintage rival the best of this decade.
More importantly, for us, it is a vintage that marks something of a return to a more classic idea of Bordeaux. These are poised to be some of the longest lived modern-day examples.
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Vieux Chateau Certan (VCC) has turned out two absolutely stunning wines. And note we wrote "wines" - plural. The 2010 vintage at VCC is not only about the Grand Vin. In fact, one of the most sought after wines of the 2010 vintage is the estate's second wine, La Gravette de Certan.
There's no way around the fact that Pomerols are pricey. It's almost impossible to find sub-$60 Pomerols that deliver the level of quality that have made the area famous. Forget about finding something with the pedigree that 2010 Gravette de Certan delivers at this price point. This is a don't miss.
If there is a signature at VCC, it is elegance and this played to the strengths of the 2010 vintage. Alexandre Thienpont and his team tamed the massive tannins and managed to weave the bright acidity into the balanced, structured wines.
The quality at VCC is at a peak; Alexandre Thienpont is turning out his best wines ever and the vineyards are in spectacular shape. We have heard from numerous Bordeaux-diehards (professional and insiders) that the trilogy of 2008, 2009 and 2010 are the three greatest modern-day vintages at VCC, in the same qualitative league as the legendary 1947, 1948 and 1949.
Parker last week quoted Alexandre Thienpont as saying that "La Gravette de Certan is better in 2010 than many of the vintages of Vieux Chateau Certan produced in the 1970s."
These are serious words and serious praise from one of the most reserved and modest winemakers in all of Bordeaux.
Any historical analysis of Bordeaux prices reveals a rather dramatic increase. While a great many of the Grand Vins are today solidly entrenched at three- and four-digit pricing, it's refreshing to find serious, classic and structured Bordeaux for the cellar at reasonable prices.
Savvy and "in the know" collectors will act quickly. To order, please email us at offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Jeremy Noye
Vice President
Crush Wine & Spirits
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate: "What an amazing duo of wines from proprietor Alexandre Thienpont, who thinks his second wine, the La Gravette de Certan, is better in 2010 than many of the vintages of Vieux Chateau Certan produced in the 1970s - and I agree. It is a complex, relatively evolved style of wine that represents one-third of the production in 2010. An equal-part blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, it has a deep purple color and a wonderfully sweet nose of raspberries, black cherries, mulberries, licorice and foresty notes. Full-bodied and evolved, this wine has gorgeous texture and remarkable opulence. It can be drunk now or cellared for 10-15 years."