La Conseillante 2016

The 2016 La Conseillante is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc aged in 70% new and 30% one-year-old French oak for 17 months. Deep garnet-purple colored, it slips provocatively out of the glass with a lifted perfume of roses, candied violets and lavender over a core of warm red and black plums, chocolate box, unsmoked cigars and baked cherries with wafts of wild thyme and tilled soil. Medium-bodied, the palate exudes polish and sophistication with bags of fragrance, freshness and energy, sporting exquisitely fine-grained tannins and finishing very long and minerally. Around 3,808 cases produced. Drink 2022-2057.

The 2016 La Conseillante comes across ripe and generous on a nose of strawberry, blackberry, rose petal and vanilla, before more tertiary and nobler scents develop. The palate is well balanced with supple tannins and fine acidity. This is disarmingly fleshy, almost corpulent, with impressive depth, though it tightens up toward the finish. Its grace and class still come through, however. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 2024 - 2055

The aromas of violets and dark berries with licorice and sweet black tea are so attractive. What really impresses is the sweet fruit in the dense middle palate. So attractive. At the same time, there’s plenty of plush and ripe tannins that give the wine form and brightness. And it still remains bright on the finish, as the tannins roll on. A great Conseillante. Try after 2024.

This is a big wine, from the colour to the stunning level of fruit and tannin extraction that is not overdone, but is certainly evident. Gorgeous violets and blackberries run through the palate and slightly chewy tannins are extremely well-integrated with the oak. At first you think this carries on the slightly more swaggering style of La Conseillante seen in recent years, with black fleshed fruits and high drama, but as it unfurls in the glass you reclaim also the more floral, vibrant and elegant touches that suggest the heart of this property is unchanged. A touch austere, but that's what you want for long ageing. There is around one degree less alcohol than in 2015, even though they finished picking later. For me, this is a more classic La Conseillante than 2015. The aromatics are just so striking. This is the second year of using biodynamic preparations across the whole vineyard. Michel Rolland consults. 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc aged in 70% new oak.

Drinking Window 2027 - 2050

Not as aromatic as some of the very top Pomerols. Lovely texture but not as expressive as some. A hint of soapiness. Lots of texture buried under the substance here but needs time for the flavour to develop. Lots to chew on.
Drink 2026-2040

Fabulously situated alongside Cheval Blanc and L'Evangile, this property has a long track record of making outstanding wine that is never forced or over-extracted. Always consistent and reliable. Quality has been further improved in recent years by the production of a second wine - Duo de la Conseillante. This is made from the less well situated vines near to Beauregard and represents up to 25% of the crop in 2015. New wine-maker Marielle Cazaux made a very impressive 2015, and the opinion here is that the 2016 vintage may be their best ever. Picked from 22nd September to 17th October at 39.5hl/ha, the blend in 2016 is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc with 70% new oak. Deep violet colour, the nose is exuberant with spring flowers, cherry blossom, sweet vanilla and succulent black cherry. The palate is smooth, succulent and supple with ultra-refined, ripe, silky tannins providing ample structure for violet, incense, chocolate and black cherry at the core. Layers of pepper, cream and coffee build through to a long, hedonistic and round finish. A very moreish, impressive, velveteen wine that is a real highlight on the right bank this year.

Bottled in June of 2018, the 2016 Château La Conseillante is a beautifully seamless yet powerful version of this cuvée that has the hallmark fragrance and elegance of the estate front and center. Complex blackberries, cassis, flowers, incense, forest floor, and floral notes all soar from this full-bodied, pure, and polished Pomerol that has an undeniable class as well as wonderful purity of fruit, perfect integration of its tannins and acidity, and a blockbuster finish. It's an incredibly complete wine that flirts with perfection and will keep for 30-40 years. The blend is 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, aged in 70% new French oak, with the balance in once-used barrels. There are less than 4,000 cases made, but this is a wine you want in your cellar. 2019 - 2059.

The nose is fragrant violets and bramble the palate rich with concentrated black fruit supple and fleshy in the middle ripe damsons. The tannins are wrapped round with fruit discreet the rich ripe fruit is underpinned by freshness the back palate lighter, stylish, elegant. 2026-41

Back on form after a slight dip in quality in 2015, this feels like a more assured, confident wine, with classic La Conseillante perfume, grassy, leafy freshness, fine-grained tannins and lovely elegance and balance. Deceptively forward, it will age very well. 2026-36