Château La Conseillante, Pomerol, 2021

2021 is the 150th anniversary of La Conseillante. This vintage was harvested between the 28th of September and the 12th of October and is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. It has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and it leaps from the glass with notes of wild blueberries, raspberry coulis, and kirsch, leading to nuances of red roses, clove oil, underbrush, and charcoal, plus a touch of wild thyme. The light to medium-bodied palate is satiny, smooth and refreshing, delivering vivacious red and blue fruit layers, with a long finish and suggestions of fragrant earth.

DRINKING WINDOW 2027 - 2039

date of review 04/2024

Once again you see the subtle floral character of Pomerol in this vintage, and here is a classically balanced La Conseillante. Need to give it a bit of time in the glass to get the creamy mid-palate, but the structure is not closing in on itself as the bigger vintages do at this stage, so you see the silky tannins and fresh acidities. Draws out through the palate, clear salinity on the finish that maintains grip and lift, gentle spice on the finish, white pepper and clove, a very pretty wine, should be ready to drink in three or four years and for 15 years to come. Director Marielle Cazeaux. Michel Rolland consultant. Harvest September 28 to October 12, 39hl/h yield, 70% new oak with 3% amphora and 3.5% press wine. Simple 150th anniversary engraving on the bottle, but the label the same as ever.

DRINKING WINDOW 2027 - 2041

date of review 03/2024

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

DRINKING WINDOW 2027 - 2060

date of review 02/2024