Made up of 75% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2016 La Gravette de Certan has a deep garnet-purple color and features lovely redcurrants, black raspberries and black cherries notes with a beautiful floral background of lavender and rose hip tea plus suggestions of sandalwood, cinnamon stick and menthol. Medium-bodied, refreshing, elegant and beautifully seamless, it offers layers of perfumed red and black fruits with a satiny texture and very impressive length.

Darker and denser than the 2015, the 2016 La Gravette de Certan reveals a similar profile yet has more obvious structure as well as full-bodied notes of smoked tobacco, black fruits, earth, and spice box. Deep, powerful, and shockingly good for a second wine, it’s well worth your time and money. Drink it over the coming 20+ years.

Lovely finesse and clarity of ripe fruit, leather, spice and leaves on the nose and palate. Medium body, elegance and balance. It just floats on the palate. One of best ever of the second wine of Vieux Chateau Certan.

The 2016 La Gravette de Certan is flat-out gorgeous. Supple, creamy and beautifully textured, the 2016 possesses striking density and class to burn. Readers will find all of the sensuality of the Grand Vin in this striking, sumptuous second wine. A rush of blue fruits, lavender, spice, menthol and rose petal builds in a silky, beautifully perfumed Pomerol. Readers who can find the Gravette should not hesitate, as it is sublime. The 2016 is 75% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon taken from young vines, those under 25 years of age.

Ripe berry flavors embellish the second wine of Vieux Château Certan. Fruity and with silky tannins, the wine is made from young vines, giving a bright lively character that will be attractive from 2022.