CHÂTEAU LA CONSEILLANTE

A dense, layered Pomerol with lots of chocolate, walnut, and plum character. Some coffee undertones. It’s full-bodied with chewy, polished tannins and a structured, muscular finish. Solid. Elegance with power. 2018. Try after 2025. Rating: 97 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Feb 2021)

The 2018 Château La Conseillante checks in as a blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc brought up in 70% new French oak, with a small amount in amphora. Yields here were a light 32 hectoliters per hectare, and the 2018 is a respectable 13.5% natural alcohol. Winemaker Marielle Cazaux commented that the secret to the vintage was to be a lazy winemaker (i.e. hands off). Her 2018 boasts a saturated purple color as well as incredible purity in its blue and black fruits, spice, liquid flower, and violet-like characteristics. Full-bodied, pure and seamless on the palate as well, it’s flawlessly balanced, with building yet sweet tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. It's going to flirt with perfection. Hats off to Marielle for another magical wine from this estate, which has quickly risen into the top echelon of estates in Bordeaux. Rating: 97-100 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (May 2019)

The 2018 La Conseillante is a blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc, with a 3.65 pH and 14% alcohol. Yields were 32 hectoliters per hectare; Merlot was harvested September 19 to October 1, and Cabernet Franc was harvested on October 4. Very deep purple-black colored, it comes charging out of the gate with energetic notes of wild blueberries, chocolate-covered cherries and warm black plums plus hints of lilacs, damp soil, cardamom and cloves with gentle wafts of cast iron pan and fragrant earth. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with elegant black fruit and earthy layers, framed by soft, velvety tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. Rating: 96-98 Lisa Perrotti-Brown, RobertParker.com (Apr 2019)

This is a forceful red, showing blueberry and blackberry character with violets and light wet earth. Clarity and beauty with so much transparency and focus. Full-bodied, firm and silky with lots of white-pepper and salt undertones. Rating: 97-98 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2019)

After a marathon eight tasting sessions Marielle Cazaux and team have settled on an assemblage of 83% Merlot, picked between September 19th and October 1st, and 17% Cabernet Franc, picked October 4th, although in truth there were only six full days of picking. The yield was 32 hl/ha, and the grand vin took 90% of this crop. The alcohol is 14%, and the pH 3.65. Aromatically this is very convincing, shining out in the course of a morning tasting in Pomerol, showing black fruits, confit cherry, intense blackcurrant and curranty notes, although it still takes a little time to open out in the glass. The start of the palate feels like velvet, with a richly polished texture through the middle, carrying very dark, concentrated and curranty fruits, with liquorice and black bean nuances. It is ripe and silky, with finely integrated tannins, a lovely energy and a very confident finish, one filled with grip and saline mineral edges. The élevage will be in 70% new oak, 27% second-fill oak and 3% amphorae. Rating: 97-99 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2019)

Partial aging in amphorae and a mix of barrels gives this rich wine structure, but with a light touch. Its acidity and freshness come from attractive berry flavors that offer lift and a crisp, crunchy finish. Rating: 95 Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast www.winemag.com (Apr 2019)

This is extremely good quality with a lovely persistency, luscious and luxurious with richly textured tannins that place you perfectly in the heart of Pomerol. It’s inky and concentrated with clear liquorice from the start and an abundance of flowers and fruit; violets and iris followed by black chocolate alongside subtleties of woodsmoke and coffee that curl out of the glass after a few minutes. It has bouncy tannins with a 95IPT but they're so hugely silky that you can be pretty sure this is going to age every bit as well as the 2016. They continued with all biodynamic and organic farming here except for one treatment during flowering against mildew which meant they had to stop the certification process. 3% will be aged in amphoras, the rest in barrel. Michel Rolland consults. A yield of 32hl/ha. 3.65pH. Drinking range: 2028 - 2044 Rating: 97 Jane Anson, Decanter (Mar 2019)