2021 La Conseillante
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Tasting notes
La Conseillante is a great success in 2021, particularly with all things considered climate-wise. Their bravery in cutting yields right down, a huge amount of selection at harvest and picking their Cabernet Franc very late has produced a delicious wine. It is beautifully scented with peony, peppery spice, incense and violets. The moderate structure and concentration remains very juicy, rounded and supple with a good creaminess on the mid-palate. The wine has a really noticeable long finish. Impressive. The wine will be aged in 70% new oak, 23% one-year-old barrels and 3% amphora. Blend: 85% merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc
Critic scores
Average Score
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind. Smudgy rim. Smooth and sweet but without much subtlety. Very unevolved. Difficult to judge how this will mature. Very drying on the end at the moment. (JR)
The 2021 Château La Conseillante checks in as 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc and is a deep purple/ruby-hued effort with vivid redcurrant and plum fruit as well as some sappy tobacco, graphite, and floral notes. These carry to a medium-bodied, fine, finesse-driven Conseillante that has supple, ripe tannins, a bright spine of acidity, and outstanding length. This classic, pretty, incredibly elegant 2021 will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and evolve gracefully through 2046.
The 2021 La Conseillante, which was bottled at the beginning of June 2023, has a very clean and precise bouquet—predominantly red fruit, iris flower, hints of oyster shell and a distant scent of black truffle, all very focused. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, fresh and demonstrating notable depth. There remains a patina of oak to be subsumed (75% new with 3% in amphora) with flecks of dark chocolate emerging toward the composed finish. This is one Pomerol that will benefit from some bottle-aging, and I notice more pixelation emerging with time in bottle—a classically styled La Conseillante. 13.3% alcohol
About the producer
Château la Conseillante was built in 1750 and named after the proprietor, Libourne business woman Catherine Conseillan. The reputation of the wines quickly grew and her wines became some of the most expensive in the region.