The terroir of VCC is a harmonious blend of clay, gravel, and sandy soils, each perfectly suited to specific grape varieties. A deep clay section is primarily planted with Merlot, a mix of gravel and clay nurtures Cabernet Franc, and a gravel soil area supports Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyard's peak is near the center of the Pomerol plateau, where VCC's vines meet those of Petrus on ancient blue clay dating back millions of years. The character of Vieux Chateau Certan varies with each vintage. Some years favor Cabernet Franc, resulting in a more structured wine, while other vintages allow Merlot to showcase greater ripeness and opulence, lending a lush quality.

Throughout much of the 19th century, VCC’s wine was revered as among the finest. In 1924, Belgian Bordeaux wine merchant Georges Thienpont acquired the property, ushering in a new era of the estate. He innovatively introduced the distinctive pink capsule covering the cork, a stylish touch that also made it easy to spot his wines on the shelf. Despite facing challenging weather and economic hardships in the 1930s, VCC persevered and enchanted connoisseurs with remarkable vintages in the 1940s. However, as the wines were primarily sold through Thienpont's Belgian company, they did not receive the same international exposure as those distributed through broader channels.

By the 1980s, Georges' grandson, Alexandre Thienpont, assumed the helm of VCC, propelling the estate to new heights. He introduced a second wine to broaden exposure, revamped the winemaking facilities in 1988, and further modernized the traditional Pomerol estate in 2003. In the vineyard, he reduced yields and employed new vineyard management techniques, including green harvesting and picking fruit at a more advanced stage of ripeness. These efforts preserved the grapes' natural characteristics, ensuring the authentic expression of the terroir in the wine.

With parcels replanted over the years, the vineyard's average age is meticulously maintained at 40-50 years. Alexandre's expertise in parcel selection and aging has resulted in elegant wines that are easy to enjoy, yet complex and age-worthy. These wines exhibit a full-bodied profile with rich flavors of ripe blackberry, plum, floral notes, chocolate, and spice. In addition to overseeing this family estate, Alexandre also manages the vineyards of nearby Le Pin, owned by his cousin Jacques Thienpont.

Today, Alexandre's son Guillaume has joined him in leading the estate, upholding the highest standards in production and preserving VCC's legacy as a top-tier producer in the Pomerol appellation.