Château La Conseillante 2022

Expressive, floral, with blood orange zest, iris blossoms, superb structure, peppery notes; on the palate, focused, a delicacy like no other, powerful yet feather-light, round and smooth, while displaying great elegance; on the finish, of majestic length, with a spicy-fruity finale. A true masterpiece.

The 2022 La Conseillante is just as exquisite in bottle as it was en primeur. Wafting from the glass with an exotic bouquet of mulberries, black raspberries and plums mingled with notions of black truffle, burning embers, violets, mint and licorice, it's full-bodied, velvety and enveloping, with a fleshy, even unctuous core of fruit underpinned by a broad chassis of sweet, powdery and perfectly integrated tannin. This is the most lavish, sensual La Conseillante of the last decade, with the most texture and density, yet it remains unerringly precise and harmonious. It's a blend of 87% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc.

The best La Conseillante I’ve tasted. Intensely fragrant: blackcurrants, cherries, roses, violets. Juicy, bright and alive, with acidity lifting the expression. Many Pomerols bring power and spice; this is relaxed and silky, with summer berries and a cooling finish of blueberries, liquorice, crushed stones, slate and minty cola. A captivating wine in which every element sings in harmony. Vibrant, joyful and delicious now, but destined to age beautifully. Effortless winemaking from Marielle Cazeau. 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc.

The freshness and aromatics are really beautiful. Flowers such as orange blossoms with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon. Medium-bodied, this has ultrafine tannins that run the length of the wine and caress every inch. Very elegant and vivid at the end. Such refinement and loveliness for the vintage. 87% merlot and 13% cabernet franc. Try after 2028.

The 2022 La Conseillante definitely has one of the more mineral-driven aromatics, vibrant and focused, complex and mercurial. The palate is medium-bodied with finely spun tannins, a keen line of acidity, beautifully balanced with an almost citrus-fresh finish. This fans out beautifully, excellent from start to finish. One of the best Right Bank wines in 2022. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

Everything you could want in La Conseillante and Pomerol is here. The initial sniff is all it takes to hook you with its dark chocolate, violet, black cherry, truffle, licorice, and spearmint profile. The show-stopping, sensual display of perfectly ripe fruits with their silk and velvet textures, coupled with a racy edge, is off the hook! The finish looks at the 60-second mark and keeps on going. This is hedonism at its best. 2022 is at the level of the perfect 2016, if not even better. La Conseillante lovers should be all over this wine! The wine blends 87% Merlot with 13% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2027-2060.

Deep dark ruby in colour with an opaque core, purple reflections, and subtle brightening on the rim. On the nose, delicate nuances of fine oak and liquorice, with floral nuances, ripe red cherry, some blackberry, candied orange zest and tobacco nuances. The full-bodied palate is elegant and balanced, with fine acidity, fine berry fruit and a saline mineral finish, the wine seems incredibly light-footed and silky, with great drinking potential. A prime example of this exquisite wine.

Deep inky colour, crushed rose petal and peony, such a beautiful wine, with waves of blueberry and cassis fruit, along with liquorice root, lemongrass, slate and saffron, and one of the clear standout successes of Pomerol. 95% first wine this year, with just 5% for Duo de La Conseillante. Slow progress across the palate, this has vintage character but leans into it. 70% new oak, pH 3.65. Harvest from the 5th to the 20th.

A deep, mysterious nose, like a gaze cast into the darkness of an ancient well, imbued with the mineral freshness of damp stone. Black fruit unfolds in all its hedonistic, beguiling, hypnotic richness, lifted by notes of incense, Damask rose, and sweet spices. On the palate, a sculptural architecture takes shape: shards of dark chocolate intertwine with the generous concentration of dark fruit, while floral nuances and a hint of Sichuan pepper bring definition and intensity. The texture, initially silky, turns chalky on the refined finish.

La Conseillante 2022 first highlights its floral side with notes of peony and violet, before revealing nuances of ripe black berries and a hint of praline in the background. As the minutes pass, the bouquet further emphasizes its floral character, its authenticity, its particularities. Before being a 2022, it is above all La Conseillante! While the bouquet suggests plenty of charm, the palate refocuses the discussion by showing, above all, freshness and finesse, with an almost airy quality that merely precedes a serene power, a quiet strength energized by an austerity that is as structuring as it is refreshing. The tannins impart vigor in a manner that is indeed authoritative, but above all caring, insightful, and constructive.

Dark, intense and beautiful color. Very aromatic nose—refined, fruity, ripe, subtle and complex. Precise on the attack, very aromatic at mid-palate, with classy texture and good body; the wine gains further on the finish, ending deep and long, with nuances of black fruit; all wrapped in a delicious, gentle softness. Blend: 87% merlot, 13% cabernet franc. Alcohol: 14% - pH: 3.6. Yield: 33 hl/ha.

This is a ripe, juicy wine, full of sunshine, that has solid tannins and a fine concentration. With its black currant aroma, density and balancing freshness, the wine has richness with style and elegance. Drink from 2028.