La Conseillante 2019 (6.0L)

100 JD / 99 WA / 99 JS / 99 WCI / 98+ WI / 98 VM / 97 JA / 97 DE / 95-97 WE / 17.5 JR

#30 James Suckling Top 100 Wines of France 2022
#41 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of 2022

An utterly brilliant Pomerol and the finest wine from this estate to date, surpassing even the 2016, the 2019 Château La Conseillante checks in as 84% Merlot and 16% Cabernet Franc and was raised in 70% new French oak. A wine of incredible finesse, purity, and precision, its deep purple hue is following by an incredible array of blueberries, crème de cassis, spring flowers, damp earth, and violets. Flawlessly balanced, full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, it has a beautiful mid-palate, ultra-fine, utterly seamless tannins, and a heavenly finish. It doesn't have the sheer density or outright power of some of the other top Pomerols, but as I wrote in the barrel sample review, no one marries elegance with opulence as well as Conseillante. This magical Pomerol will take a decade to hit full maturity and will evolve for 30 years or more. This is haute couture at its absolute pinnacle, and as I wrote in the barrel review, hats off to Marielle Cazaux for producing one of the top wines of the vintage. - Jeb Dunnuck

The 2019 La Conseillante is performing brilliantly and rivals the 2016 as Marielle Cazaux's finest vintage at this leading Pomerol estate to date. Wafting from the glass with striking aromas of raspberries, plums, violets, raw cocoa, sweet soil tones and licorice, framed by a deftly integrated touch of classy new oak, it's full-bodied, ample and enveloping, its broad attack segueing into a seamless, layered mid-palate that's vibrant and concentrated, framed by powdery tannins and lively acids, before concluding with a long, saline finish. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate

The transparency and vibrancy here is impressive. From the very start it’s so aromatic, showing crushed-berry, dark-chocolate, coffee and cedar character. Full-bodied, yet tight and wonderfully tailored, with tannins that are fine-textured, but intense and so long, giving this wine great length. A joy to taste, but needs many years to soften and come together. Wonderful development here. Try after 2028. - James Suckling

The 2019 La Conseillante is composed of 84% Merlot and 16% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, it wafts out of the glass with compelling scents of violets, dark chocolate, eucalyptus, and rose oil over a core of plum preserves, ripe blueberries, and cinnamon stick. Full-bodied, the palate shimmers with energized black and red berry layers, framed by exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins and exhilarating tension, leading to a very long and achingly fragrant finish on this gorgeous wine. - Lisa Perotti-Brown, Wine Independent

The 2019 La Conseillante was stellar from the sample sent to "Martin Towers" in spring 2020, and the news is that there is no change in bottle. Allowed to open while gossiping away with winemaker Marielle Cazaux (you have to catch up when you are unable to see people regularly), the 2019 unveils an awesome, extraordinarily pure bouquet that seduces the senses, featuring dark cherries, blueberry, pressed violet and a touch of blood orange, all displaying wonderful delineation. The palate is medium-bodied and cohesive, with fine-grained tannins and a judicious touch of black pepper toward the finish, which fans out gloriously while maintaining a sense of class. The best La Conseillante since the 2010? No - better. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

Majoring on Cabernet Franc character at this point, clear spice notes with rosebud, fragrant raspberry leaf, the most gorgeously powerful aromatics. On the palate you get cassis, bilberry, liquorice, dark chocolate shavings, balanced yet concentrated. Love this wine, and it is a brilliant example of the vintage. Harvest September 17 to October 9 (picking just a day at a time as needed, spread out over three weeks). Bottled mid June. 70% new oak, 30% amphoras. 34hl/h yield. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

Vivid red pink in the glass with an expressive nose filled with softly fragrant red cherries, raspberries and purple flowers. This has a lovely texture and appeal straight away - it’s juicy and lively all the way through from start to finish but with a rich, mineral, wet stone core balanced by silky tannins. Detailed and graceful with presence and a satisfying weight on the tongue edged with lashings of black liquorice and slate. Star quality and such Pomerol glamour here with such a long finish. Lots of life ahead. A gorgeous wine. Drinking Window 2030 - 2050 - GH, Decanter

While the wine is dense, there is a gentle richness here. It shows ripe tannins and soft black plum flavors. At the same time, the wine's potential is obvious and powerful. It has balance, ripeness, structure and a fine future. - Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast

Deep purple-crimson hue. Plenty of depth and intensity on the nose with morello cherry and floral (violet) notes. Palate hits a perfect pitch of ripeness, the fruit ripe but juicy and refreshing. Solid but refined tannins provide a firmness and persistence on the finish. Offers gravity and charm combined.-James Lawther MW, JancisRobinson