Château La Conseillante 2018

Well-groomed presentation, pronounced floral character, freshness and elegance, finely chiselled tannins, perfect harmony and length; impeccably vinified.

The 2018 La Conseillante is composed of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc, with a 3.65 pH and 14% alcohol. Deep garnet‑purple in color, it needs a lot of swirling and coaxing to draw out the youthfully shy yet incredible perfume of black raspberries, boysenberries, ripe plums, and cinnamon toast, leading to notions of lilacs, clove oil, and forest floor, plus a waft of iron ore. The medium‑ to full‑bodied palate is a jaw‑dropping exercise in finesse, slowly unfurling to reveal layer upon layer of bright, crunchy red and black fruits, supported by a rock‑solid frame of firm, fine‑grained tannins and tons of freshness, finishing long with an impressive fireworks display of mineral notes and exotic spices. It’s an incredible expression of Pomerol that cannot fail to inspire a resounding “WOW” from anyone fortunate enough to drink it. Tempting to broach now (albeit with plenty of air), try to keep your hands off it for a good 5 years and then drink it over the next 30 years or more.

Nicely packed, with a mix of dark plum and black currant preserve flavors wrapped with licorice root and warm earth notes. Tobacco and bay fill in on the finish, adding energy and cut. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2034. 3,299 cases made.

This is beautiful and powers through the palate, showing depth and concentration to the brambled fruit. It has an excellent mid-palate; the truffle of Pomerol comes through at this young stage in a way that wasn’t evident even in 2015, but here it brings a lovely, seductive kick. Spicy vanilla bean and black pepper alongside touches of cinnamon—this is very high quality. A yield of 32 hl/ha. 70% new oak, 3% in amphora for the first time.

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.

The 2018 La Conseillante was given a two-hour decant and then monitored over the following 12 hours. What a stupendous Pomerol! It has a bravura nose that immediately seduces the olfactory senses, delivering a cornucopia of black cherries, cassis, crushed violets and iris. Such intensity here, and then it blossoms, accentuating its floral component while retaining the DNA of Pomerol. The palate is exquisitely balanced with fine tannins that frame the pure black cherry and strawberry fruit. But it is the texture and the harmony of this La Conseillante that knocks you sideways, that tertiary finish that I noticed out of barrel gone, replaced by satin-textured, almost citrus-fresh fruit. Marielle Cazaux and her team have overseen a brilliant La Conseillante.

With a heart-stopping bouquet of violets, lilacs, cocoa, dark cherries, plums, wet earth and espresso, you are already hooked. But it is on the palate that the show comes to fruition. With depth of flavor, silky, elegant tannins, concentration and countless layers of perfectly ripe, dark red pit fruits, the wine provides a sublime, sensuous experience that no other wine offers. Give this at least 7-8 years before popping a cork. The wine blends 83% Merlot with 17% Cabernet Franc.

Deep dark ruby, violet hues, delicately paler at the rim. Gently scented ethereal undertones of fresh wild berries, fine woody spice nuances, as well as cherries and dark chocolate, candied orange zest. Juicy and elegant on the palate, silky tannins, mineral components, maturely expressive in the aftertaste, persistent. A highly promising food accompaniment.

Kunz barrel sample 19: (83% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 32 hl/ha, 14% alc. vol.) Velvety, sweet, creamy bouquet, red and blue berries, vanilla, mocha. Finely opulent, elegant, fresh palate with powerful, precise fruit, diverse sweet aromatics, plenty of fine tannins, an elegant, silky structure, and a very long, fragrant, fresh finish. Has room to develop further.

(83% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 32 hl/ha, 14% vol. alcohol) Velvety, sweet, creamy bouquet, red and blue berries, vanilla, mocha. Finely opulent, elegant, fresh palate with powerful, fine fruit, complex, sweet aromatics, plenty of fine tannin, elegant, silky structure, very long, fragrant, fresh finish. Can improve further. 18/20 2025 - 2045

Knitted-down fruits and muscular tannins rippled with juice and salinity. As it opens, the palate is flooded with redcurrant, raspberry, white pepper and truffle spice, and you get incredible richness coupled with floral aromatics, a push and pull between concentration and finesse. 70% new oak, 27% one-year barrels, with the introduction of 3% amphora for this vintage (no stems used during winemaking at La Conseillante). 32.5 hl/ha yield after mildew — this is the year they gave up on organic conversion in order to carry out just one treatment they felt was essential. Harvest from September 19 to October 4.

La Conseillante 2018 is deep garnet-purple in color. It offers scents of baked black cherries, chocolate box, and warm blueberries, with hints of black raspberries, menthol, and cinnamon stick. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is firm and grainy, with a lively backbone and vibrant, pure fruit, finishing with a spring in its step.

Beautiful freshness on the bouquet, with great precision and detail. Conseillante reveals itself slowly and shows fine confidence. On the palate, the wine mirrors the nose; plenty of finesse and exceptionally precise tannins. The wine has density, power, and a structure that provides flawless support. A truly great wine that brilliantly embraces the 2018 vintage, with all its challenges but also its positives from which the best was drawn. A very great wine.

Logo on the cork: CL Dark, intense, beautiful color. Very aromatic nose, delicate, fruity, subtle, complex, and deep. Delightful texture from the first sip, then the wine expands with great flesh in the mid-palate, showing plenty of class in the touch and depth of flavor. Lively, melting, airy, it evolves nobly into a long finish that leaves you speechless. Superb.

94–96. Barrel Sample. 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.