Château La Conseillante, Pomerol, 2011

Jean-Michel Laporte explained that Conseillante doesn't own an optical sorting table, but in 2011 it would have been useful. Botrytis affected grapes were removed in the vineyards and pink berries were separated on the sporting table. Tasted twice, the first sample was extremely elegant, precise Pomerol, packed with bright red berry flavours, minerals, crushed rocks, floral fruits and cherries. This was a joyful, vibrant, fragrant example, which in no way felt extracted but lacks the decadence of the magnificent 2009 and 2010. The second sample, tasted under grey skies showed much more structure and weight in the mid-palate, but lacked a little of the charm of the first bottle. Although there was ample cherry liqueur fruit on the finish, the tannins appeared overly drying and even a touch coarse. We shall have to wait and see how this develops in barrel.