150 Years of Family Stewardship of La Conseillante

- 2021 La Conseillante

As one of the best Pomerol wines sought after by collectors, La Conseillante is a consistent top performer throughout the ebbs and flows of Bordeaux.  In a great year, it is superb.  In an average year, its consistency is stunning: dense, succulent, and seductive.

2021 presented challenges the team at La Conseillante was well-prepared for.  After all, this vintage marked the 150th anniversary of the ownership under the Nicolas family.  Throughout the year, the team worked consistently in the vineyard and the cellars, making decisions to craft a wine that demonstrated their deep roots and attachment to their terroir.  Through severe selection that led to a 20% decrease in the volume produced, the winemaker delivered another remarkable result in what was an uneven year.

To commemorate the vintage, each bottle is engraved with the markings of "150e Anniversaire".

"Flavoursome, sculpted, successful, this is rippling with violet and rosebud aromatics, followed by raspberry and black cherry fruits. It maintains momentum through the mid palate with a creamy texture and gourmet touches of liquorice root, cocoa bean and precisely-expressed slate minerality. Harvest began the latest ever, on September 28 through to October 12, 39hl/h yield, almost exactly average for the property (the average in Pomerol this year was closer to 29hl/h), from 9.77ha of vines in production, 3.6ph, 70% new oak with 3% amphora and 3.5% press wine. A successful showing for the 150th vintage of the estate from director Marielle Cazeaux. Michel Rolland consultant." - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux (4/7/2022) Rating: 95, Drink: 2027-2044

"A superb effort that transcends the challenges of the vintage, the 2021 La Conseillante offers up a beautifully perfumed nose of wild berries, raspberry coulis, violets, exotic spices and vine smoke. Medium to full-bodied, supple and enveloping, it's a sensual, seamless wine that's deep and layered, structured around supple tannins and lively acids. Perfumed and penetrating, the 2021 isn't the most powerful wine this estate has produced, but it brilliantly exemplifies the rare structural elegance and almost Burgundian aromatic range that so often set this great estate apart from the rest of the Pomerol appellation. It's a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc." - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (4/29/2022) Rating: 95-96

"The 2021 Château La Conseillante showed beautifully, and while it's not going to match the all-time greats here, it's a quintessential, elegant, seamless Pomerol in the making. Revealing a deep purple hue as well as a spectacular nose of pure cassis, ripe tobacco, damp earth, and ample floral nuances, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannins, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. It's a remarkable effort in this challenging vintage. The blend is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, still aging in 70% new barrels, that hit 13.3% alcohol and a pH of 3.6." - Jeb Dunnuck, (6/2/2022) Rating: 93-95

"The 2021 La Conseillante was picked the latest in memory, from September 28 until October 8, at 39hL/ha, and matured in 70% new oak. It comes in at 13.3% alcohol and a pH of 3.6. The beautifully defined bouquet offers blackberry, bilberry and light iris petal scents, just a suggestion of black truffle coming though with time. The harmonious palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and lightly spiced red fruit. There is a very subtle ferrous note, lovely depth and grip on the finish, and a persistent aftertaste. A beautiful La Conseillante courtesy of winemaker Marielle Cazaux and her team." - Neal Martin, VInous, (5/2022) Rating: 95-97