Alexandre Thienpont

The Climb

Today, the titles attached to Alexandre Thienpont — guardian of Vieux-Château-Certan and publication manager of Vieux Château Certan — frame the same craft from two angles: upkeep and expression. In both roles, the work remains rooted in the estate, where attention to detail, timing, and tone supports the continuity of Vieux Château Certan.

Today

At the same estate, he continues making the wines of Vieux-Château-Certan. That repetition matters: the practice is anchored in one place, one house language, and the seasonal sequence of vine, harvest, and élevage that defines the estate’s work.

Signature

Alexandre's signature wines include Vieux Château Certan. The association is long-running, and the name signals a style of authorship built through judgment and consistency rather than flourish; the wine functions as the clearest expression of his work at the property.

In Their Words “Keep in mind, we are still not finished with the malolactic fermentation, but at this point, the 2012 Vieux Chateau Certan vintage reminds us of a blend between 2005 and 2006.” “That 1945 had nothing to do with the 1945 VCC. In fact, it has nothing to do with the Vieux-Château-Certan. It doesn’t have the signature of the château.”

Recognition

A strict standard for authenticity runs through Alexandre Thienpont’s remarks on Vieux Château Certan. His line about the 1945 — that it had nothing to do with the 1945 VCC and did not carry the château’s signature — defines the measure by which the estate’s wine is judged: fidelity to place, and recognizability of hand.