Château La Conseillante 2017

Has gained further in delicacy, immensely subtle and elegant, floral and sensual, impeccably crafted. Top marks for harmony.

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 La Conseillante sashays out of the glass with the most gorgeous notes of lilacs, Black Forest cake, kirsch and black raspberries plus nuances of cinnamon stick, dark chocolate and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a firm, finely grained texture with bags of perfumed black fruits and wonderful freshness, finishing very long and very fragrant.

A tobacco leaf accent pierces the large core of raspberry, plum and blackberry compote flavors, injecting energy as this moves along, pulling juniper, bramble and black tea notes through the finish. Shows lots of detail and energy on the finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2038. 3,299 cases made.

A lighter vintage overall, with delicacy and finely-spun tannins. The fruit is sculpted raspberry and red cherry, clearly will be ready to drink before the 2015 and 2016, lots to enjoy with delicate tomato leaf, grilled oak, chocolate shavings and liquorice root. Not too much frost here at La Conseillante, just one small plot at the bottom of the vineyard, so yields were 34hl/ha. 70% new oak.

A young red with sweet fruit and very fine tannins, which have a creamy and almost salty sensation. Medium to full body. Blackberries, dark chocolate and bark. Some black tea, too. It shows an energy and tension. The creamy tannins give polish and beauty. Better after 2023.

The 2017 La Conseillante is a regal wine. Lithe and statuesque in the glass, La Conseillante soars with real vertical intensity. Sweet floral aromatics and silky tannins give the 2017 much of its understated, classy personality. Inky dark blue/purplish fruit, spice, licorice and lavender develop with a bit of time, but it is the wine's balance and extreme sense of harmony that stand out most. Technical Director Marielle Cazaux gave the fruit about 2 days on the skins, with no SO2 at crush. Cazaux added that the malos were quite fast. The blend is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. Frost reduced production by around 15%, while drought further reduced yields in the Franc by a further 10%. This is a fabulous showing.

Sophisticated, sexy and fresh, the wine is lenient and silky. There is a strong violet sensation along with black cherry, boysenberry, truffle and dark chocolate. The wine is classic in style but in a virtuous way. There is depth and volume. On the palate, you'll experience sweet, bright, fresh, dusty, chocolate-covered plums. The harvest took place September 5 to September 9. The wine was made from blending 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, reaching 13.5% ABV with a pH of 3.65.

Deep dark ruby, purple reflections, faint brightening on the rim. Ripe plum fruit, a hint of nougat and blackberry conserve beneath. Substantial palate, black cherry, pleasant fruit, integrated, supporting tannins, mineral and long with fine chocolate on the finish. Good ageing potential.

Darker notes of iron, truffly earth, and subtle minerality emerge from the 2017 Château La Conseillante. Round and supple on the palate, with impressive concentration, it has velvety tannins, an undeniable chalky minerality, and bright acidity, and it benefits notably from air. This beautiful, classically styled La Conseillante needs 3-5 years of bottle age and will drink well through 2045.

Kunz barrel sample 18: (85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 34 hl/ha, 13.5% vol. alcohol, 70% new barriques) Airy, silky, fresh bouquet of raspberry, strawberry, mint, After Eight, pralines. Balanced, fine, creamy palate with powerful, sweet, refined fruit, plenty of fine tannins, dense, creamy structure, varied aromatics, long, fresh finish with sweet echoes.

Fresh, fragrant, powerful bouquet, red and blue berries, cassis, licorice, light tobacco, fine nougat. Densely woven, elegant, fresh palate with sweet fruit, fine tannins, creamy texture, varied, delicate aromatics, long, powerful, fresh finish. 18/20 2024 - 2045

Softly nuanced aromatics with gorgeous floral notes and fine aromatics. This is less structured and with a cooler vintage character than the vintages on either side of 2017, but there is so much pleasure to be had here: finesse, personality, salinity, and it also gains in concentration as it opens. Lovely wine, easily one of the highlights of the 2017 vintage. 70% new oak, 30% one-year barrels. Harvest from September 5 to 29. A year when much of Bordeaux was impacted by frost, but here at La Conseillante they lost just one small plot at the bottom of the vineyard, leaving yields of 34 hl/ha.

The 2017 La Conseillante is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps with notions of black and red cherry preserves, fresh black plums, and mulberries, plus hints of aniseed, jasmine tea, and fragrant earth. Medium-bodied, elegant, and lively on the palate, it shows intense layers of red berries and florals, finishing with a minerally lift.

Vibrant, fruity, deep, mineral, elegant, juicy, very elegant, with round, silky tannins. A great success.

The bouquet of Conseillante 2017 highlights several elements, both in terms of élevage (70% new barrels) and grape varieties. I detect notes of chocolate and mint, followed by a touch of violet and blackberry. On the palate, the wine is juicy and dense. It features fine-grained, perfectly integrated tannins that lend breadth. The structure is refreshing and provides solid support. A fruity finish where I find the same tension as on the attack. A wine to follow over time; it’s on the starting blocks and has yet to reveal its full potential, but it clearly showcases its abilities. Certainly one of the great successes of 2017, with a score that could be adjusted upwards in the future!

Dark, intense, and beautiful color. Very aromatic nose, subtle and delicate, with ripe fruit. A palate marked by tactile finesse and noble aromas. The wine melts on the palate, extremely flavorful, with incredible class and pedigree. Don’t hesitate to taste it right away.

A powerfully juicy wine, this has weight as well as elegant sophistication. Generous layers of rich Merlot offer dark black-fruit flavors as well as a jammy balance for the acidity. Drink from 2024.