The 2020 Vieux Château Certan is killer stuff and unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage. Deep and rich, it offers an incredible array of red, blue, and black fruits along with floral nuances and subtle spice. Full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, it displays a gorgeous, structured profile with firm yet perfectly ripe tannins and a focused, balanced mouthfeel. This pure, brilliant Pomerol deserves 8-10 years of bottle age and will have 40-50 years of longevity. Hats off to the Thienpont family for another magical wine. Drink 2033-2085.

The 2020 Vieux Château Certain is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc (no Cabernet Sauvignon this year). Drought retarded vigor, particularly with respect to the older vines, and picking was carried out September 14–24 for the Merlot and September 28–29 for the Cabernet Franc. Examined over a couple of hours, it delivers intense and quite opulent black cherries, blueberry and shavings of black truffle and iodine, becoming increasingly floral with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with impressive structure and bags of freshness. There is plenty of sappy black fruit, lip-smacking underlying salinity and a finish that is a doppelganger for Lafleur (despite containing less Cabernet Franc). A gorgeous VCC that exudes both density and refinement.

A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Vieux Ch�teau Certan bursts with aromas of blackberries, sweet spices, rose petals, orange zest, burning embers and violets framed by a deft application of creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it's rich and layered, with a more broad, unctuous profile than the pure and refined 2019, concluding with a long, resonant finish. This is more immediate out of the gates than the 2019, and I suspect it will not prove quite as long lived, but it is a terrific effort from the Thienpont family.