Château La Conseillante 2019

La Conseillante – 84% Merlot + 16% Cabernet Franc, 14.5% alcohol, 70% new oak. Marielle Cazaux, winemaker here, used a technique called "debourbage" during maceration, which separates clear juice and solids, so the only clear juice comes back to the vat/barrel. Freshness, complexity, sophisticated and rich. Very blueberry and black cherry. Velvety fruit and tannin. Awesome structure, elegance and impressive length. It seems to me there is more precision in 2019 than in 2018 and more typicity of Pomerol. Stunning effort. 98+p.

The 2019 La Conseillante was picked 17-20 September for the Merlot and 30 September and 7 October for the Cabernet Franc. Yields were low at just 34hl/ha. The Grand Vin is aged in 70% new French oak, 27% one-year old barrels and 3% in clay amphora. Limpid purple in colour, this has an exquisite bouquet with pixelated blackberry and raspberry scents, laced with pressed iris and a touch of graphite. It reminds me of a less powerful version of the 2010 when I tasted that from barrel. The palate is very smooth with ebullient red and black fruit on the entry, then it tapers in a little, towards a very cohesive, satin-textured middle. This is definitely one of the purest La Conseillante wines that I have encountered from barrel. It delivers a subtle spiciness towards the finish with hints of tobacco and clove on the persistent aftertaste. Winemaker Marielle Cazaux and her team have conjured a magnificent Pomerol here.

97-99points

Intense purple colour with violet hue and black core. Noble nose with multi-layered fruit reminiscent of blackberries, fresh plums, ripe Boysenberries and fresh mulberries, backed by elegant flowery tones of violets, hints of cocoa and subtle oak. On the palate velvety tannins, elegant acidity adding freshness, sweet fruit, subtle oak and hints of minerality. A wonderful, energetic Pomerol with fine tension, great aromatic depth and excellent length.