Château La Conseillante 2023

One of the great wines of the vintage, and one that can rival its 2022 counterpart, the 2023 La Conseillante wafts from the glass with a strikingly floral bouquet of violets, lilac, raspberries, exotic spices, candied orange, pipe tobacco and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, supple and fleshy, its textural attack segues into a layered and enveloping core of pure, vibrant fruit framed by sweet tannins and concluding with a long, precise finish. It's a blend of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc, some 30% of which is maturing in amphorae. Harvest began on September 7, lasting until October 2, block by block. Under the direction of Marielle Cazaux, La Conseillante has only gone from strength to strength, and the 2023 stands out as one of the wines of the vintage in Bordeaux. The estate's parcels are harvested into 15-kilogram crates, spend the night in a cold room and are sorted the next day, before being vinified, parcel by parcel, with pump-overs by hand. Percentages of new oak have diminished, from 80% between 2011-2014 to only 70% from 2015 onward, but more importantly, the selection of barrels has changed, too, favoring lighter toasts—and cooler temperatures in the chai help too. Contemporary La Conseillante is an immensely sensual, seamless wine, exhibiting striking perfume and purity of fruit, and it's a strong candidate for the title of Pomerol's most elegant—and dare I say it, Burgundian—wine.

The 2023 Château La Conseillante is back with the captivating violet fragrance of “Medusa,” sure to win the hearts of wine enthusiasts. It’s intriguing how the wine’s crystal-clear appearance turns into a “soft steel” texture upon the palate. The tannins, reminiscent of nougat, haven’t melted yet, but a unique saltiness follows. The seamless transition from elegance to power is so natural that it’s impossible not to want to embrace and kiss it. Hints of graphite powder and licorice candy accompany the juicy black plum and blueberry aromas. With the help of crisp acidity, they spread their arms wide, hoisting a rainbow aloft to flutter in the wind. I believe the 2023 vintage of Château La Conseillante is one of the most quintessentially Bordelaise in recent years – a truly magnificent vintage.

From the outset, La Conseillante 2023 communicates precisely, with an obvious style based on freshness and finesse. Notes of peony, garrigue, blackcurrant and a hint of chocolate create a harmony that is as subtle as it is convincing. On the palate, the attack continues along the same lines as the bouquet, with a hint of sweetness paving the way for a structured wine of good density, depth, elegance and projection. The tannins come to the fore late and show a fine ability to link up with an incisive, salty and salivating acidic structure. A Conseillante that is both authentic and unique! It's hard for me to think of another Conseillante, and that's a good thing. The world of wine is not one of 'copy and paste', but one of reflection and reactivity. The only point of reference is that Conseillante 2023 reminds me of La Conseillante. A wine built on detail, in an almost filigree way, but so relevant and made with perfectly controlled power. A great wine that shines with subtlety and sparkle. 2028-2048

Wow. What beauty, elegance and length in this young wine, with medium body and vivid, bright acidity that gives energy and greater length. The tannins are extremely fine-grained, with an endless, silky texture. Another al-dente wine with brilliance. Goes on for minutes. 88% merlot and 12% cabernet franc.