Pomerol from the eighties

For today’s tasting we tried what ought to be two wonderful pomerols from the eighties : 1989 Vieux Chateau Certan and 1985 Clinet.
Both wines were topshoulders so a bit low for their age but nothing too bad and at least mixed expectations make for interesting tastings.

The 1989 Vieux Chateau Certan had besides it slightly lower level also a somewhat damaged label and some corrosion at the bottom of the capsule, so was somewhat likely to be not up to standard. In this case it was better to not offer it for sale and try it ourselves. And unfortunately, not being up to standard was very much the case. Now I have read several reviews about this particular wine before, and not often are tasting notes they so very different or contradictive even.
This proves once again that not only are perfect storage conditions crucial for long term collecting but that buying cheaper bottles with lower levels are always a gamble, some you win and some you lose.
With the level being TS the color was more maroon than should have been. The aroma’s however where far from slightly different from what I expected : mostly harsh vegetal notes competing with animalistic odors, a bit like walking past the field where only days
before the circus had put up their tents and animal cages.
Tasting it luckily was somewhat better but still nothing much more was left then a worn and austere wine with still harsh tannins despite its age and too much acidity.

Some you win and some you lose, so would the 1985 Clinet be two strikes in a row? With 1985 being the first year of production after things were turned around completely on this estate, I had better hopes for this one.

It had the lower level too, and to make it impossible to sell the label was completely missing, so on the other hand this was perfect material for a tasting. The color here a somewhat similar maroon though a tad more reddish and concentrated. The smells however, compared to the VCC were something of a different league : here a
mixture of wonderful and complex aroma’s ranging from fruity (red berries, plums and crème de cassis) to autumnal (sweet spices, dry leaves, smokiness and leather) and with a hint of cedar, licorice and sweet menthol in the finish, this was a real pleasure.
On the palate more of that supple fruitiness and warmth, incredible velvety tannins and gentle acidity, this wine was perhaps over its peak, but far from gone. Still very structured and with good balance and a more than average length there was still more than enough left, maybe not the prima ballerina but still a comeback queen giving one last great performance, very enjoyable.

DC