1989 $129.99 very limited
"A decadent, rich wine. Intense aromas of earth, tobacco, mushrooms and meat. Full-bodied and very powerful, with lots of ripe fruit and a long, silky finish. Needs time.--1989 Bordeaux horizontal. Best after 2005." 91 The Wine Spectator 5/31/99
1993 $49.99 very limited
"The 1993 Vieux-Chateau-Certan reveals an impressive dark ruby color, an herb, licorice, blackcurrant, and earthy-scented nose, sweet, forward, well-concentrated flavors, medium body, light tannin, and an expansive, succulent, fleshy finish. More tannin and structure will undoubtedly emerge, but this is a good to excellent effort for the vintage. It should drink well for 12-15 years." Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #97
1994 $56.99 very limited
"The 1994 is performing well, with no harsh tannin or vegetal characteristics. It displays a deep ruby color, and a sweet, jammy, cherry, Asian spice, as well as a smoky-scented nose. Dense, rich, medium-bodied flavors exhibit excellent concentration, and fine purity. The wine possesses low acidity and plenty of flesh, so it should drink well between now and 2010." Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #109
1995 $129.99 limited
"Medium red. Sweet aromas of redcurrant, plum and smoky oak. Lush and sweet in the mouth, with a softer texture than the '96. Round and fairly full. Expressive red fruit and sweet oak flavors. The crop was bigger in '95 than in '96 but I find this wine equally concentrated. Finishes with thoroughly suave tannins and sneaky length." 90(+?) Steve Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 5/6-98
"Wonderful fruit and texture. Best VCC I have ever tasted. Dark-colored, and bubbling over with blackberry and raspberry character with undertones of chocolate, mint and vanilla. Full-bodied, with very velvety tannins and a long, flavorful finish." 95 The Wine Spectator 1/31/98
1996 $109.99 available
"Good medium-dark red. Vinous aromas of redcurrant, tobacco and smoky, nutty oak. Silky but penetrating in the mouth; an elegantly styled wine with good extract and a light gamey nuance. Finishes with firm but fine tannins and very good persistence. This and the '95 will make a fascinating pair of vintages to follow: the '95 is denser and more merlot-dominated, while this is downright suave." 90 Steve Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 5/6-99
"This dark ruby-colored wine offers an intriguing nose of cedar wood, fruitcake, Asian spices, smoke, and cassis. In the mouth, some olive notes reveal the Cabernet Sauvignon component of this Pomerol. Medium-bodied, with excellent ripeness and considerable potential for complexity and elegance, this is a very good to excellent Vieux-Chateau-Certan that should provide fine drinking for two decades. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2016." 87-90 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #115
1997 $79.99 available
"A tight and very fine wine. Good color. Subtle mineral, violet and berry aromas, with a hint of tobacco. Full- to medium-bodied, with silky tannins and a long finish. Best after 2001." 90 The Wine Spectator 1/31/00
1998 $154.99 limited
"A prodigious effort, this dense ruby/purple-colored 1998 reveals an explosive bouquet of licorice, cedar, spice box, and jammy blackberry, currant, and cherry fruit. Profoundly concentrated, with great flavor, purity, as well as extraordinary complexity and palate presence, this wine boasts multiple layers of flavor, silky tannin, a thick, viscous texture, and a 45-second finish. The glycerin and huge extract conceal what appear to be high levels of tannin. Unusually for Vieux-Chateau-Certan, this wine contains no Cabernet Franc, being a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, harvested at a low 34 hectoliters per hectare. It is a superstar of the vintage! Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025." 94-96 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #128
"Bright ruby-red. Cassis, raspberry, cedar, lead pencil and spicy oak on the nose. Rich, sweet and deep, with firm acids giving grip and verve to the plum, raspberry, lead pencil and bitter chocolate flavors. Wonderfully concentrated, lively and very long. The yield here, according to Thienpont, was just 34 hectoliters per hectare." 92 Steve Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 5/6-01
"A powerful, wonderfully toned red. Like a great javelin-thrower. Lovely mineral, berry and violet aromas with hints of new oak. Full-bodied, with big yet silky tannins and a long, long finish. Best after 2010." 95 The Wine Spectator 1/31/01
1999 $99.99 limited
"This 1999 is deep ruby/purple-colored, with a striking perfume of black cherries, truffles, cedar, and vanilla. This layered, opulently - textured wine displays extraordinary purity, elegance, and finesse. It is a classic Bordeaux with superb palate presence that builds incrementally on the palate. The finish is long, with plenty of sweet tannin. Very impressive! Three thousand cases of the 1999 were made from a blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Last year it seemed to reveal an element of dilution, but as always, the truth is in the bottle, and presently there is no evidence of lightness or liquidity. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2018." 91 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #140
"Refined red. Lots of Indian spices on the nose, with lovely berry and plum character. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and plenty of racy fruit. A reserved, fine wine. Best after 2004." 91 The Wine Spectator 3/31/02