Château La Conseillante, Pomerol, 2024
Jean-Michel Laporte explained that the conditions were so perfect in September and October that he felt there was no risk of over ripeness. He decided to delay the harvest and attain better maturity. They also extracted more than usual and had longer macerations. They didn't do any pigeage, but they did do some more gentle pumping over. The musts had a weight of about 35 hl/ha, but when they pressed they were a little disappointed with the yield. Produced from 78% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc, this is juicy, sleek and unforced. It is an admirable style which works with the vintage not against it. Initially, floral, with bright red berry fruits, hints of cedar, sweet bramble liqueur and cherry, it possesses some beautiful bitter-sweet mid-weight flavours of blood orange and crème de mûre. The overall impression is one of velvety, luxurious, unforced fruit and pleasing, elegant tannins. This is by no means a profound Conseillante, but it will give years of drinking pleasure.
critic reviews
Deep garnet-purple colored. Slowly unfurls to reveal wonderfully pure notes of wild blueberries and black raspberries, giving way to hints of camphor, violets, pencil lead, and black olives. The medium-bodied palate delivers a solid structure of firm, grainy tannins and lively acidity to frame the crunchy black fruit flavors, finishing long and mineral-laced.
The 2024 La Conseillante was picked over six days at 22 hl/ha between September 20 and October 4. This has a clean and focused bouquet, with quite pure scents of blackberry, boysenberry and light blueberry. This is clearly without the flamboyance of a warming vintage, yet with ample freshness and delineation. The palate is medium-bodied and balanced, with slightly grainy yet fine tannins. This is a La Conseillante that wisely stays within its means. Quite strict on the finish, it's a nimble Pomerol that will drink earlier than say, the 2020, 2022 or 2023.
Dark cherry in colour, vivid, the fruits have beautiful clarity on the aromatics and the opening notes, and density through the palate. Velvety texture with lift, cocoa bean, espresso, damson, excellent quality. Michel Rolland consultant., 100% new oak, 85% of production in La Conseillante. One of the success stories in Pomerol. Harvest 20 September to 4 October, 30hl/ha when it came in from the vineyard, 22hl/h after density sorting. 3.57ph,
The 2024 La Conseillante is one of the wines of the vintage this year, wafting from the glass with aromas of raspberries and violets mingled with hints of pipe tobacco, vine smoke and spices. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with beautifully refined, integrated tannins, impressive intensity of flavor and a long, penetrating finish, this suave, sensual Pomerol represents the quintessential Conseillante. It's a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc that produced 22 hectoliters per hectare after extensive sorting.