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.

D’entrée, La Conseillante 2023 communique de manière précise avec un évident style axé sur la fraîcheur et la finesse. Les nuances de pivoine, de garrigues, de cassis et une touche chocolatée créent une harmonie autant subtile que convaincante. L’attaque maintient le cours fixé par le bouquet ; une touche friande ouvre la voie à un vin structuré, de bonne densité, profond, élégant et saillant. Ses tannins se révèlent tardivement et affichent une belle aptitude à créer le lien avec une structure acide incisive, saline et salivante. Un Conseillante qui se profile de manière authentique, mais également unique ! Il m’est difficile de me référer à un autre Conseillante et c’est d’ailleurs très bien ainsi. Le monde du vin n’est pas dans une logique de « copier coller » mais de réflexion et de réactivité. Le seul point de référence est que Conseillante 2023 me fait penser à La Conseillante. Un vin construit sur le détail, de manière presque filigrane, mais tellement pertinente et aboutie avec une puissance parfaitement maîtrisée. Un très grand vin qui brille de sa subtilité, de son caractère étincelant. 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.