CRITIC REVIEWS
Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2018 La Conseillante is composed of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc, with a 3.65 pH and 14% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a lot of swirling and coaxing to lure out the youthfully shy, incredible perfume of black raspberries, boysenberries, ripe plums and cinnamon toast, leading to notions of lilacs, clove oil and forest floor, plus a waft of iron ore. The medium to full-bodied palate is a jaw-dropping exercise in finesse, slowly unfurling in the mouth to reveal layer upon layer of bright, crunchy red and black fruits, supported by a rock-solid frame of firm, fine-grained tannins and tons of freshness, finishing long and with an impressive mineral and exotic spice firework display. Its an incredible expression of Pomerol that cannot fail to inspire a resounding "WOW" from whoever is fortunate to drink it. Tempting to broach now (albeit with a lot of air), try to keep your hands off it for a good 5 years and then drink it over the next 30 years or more.
Jane Anson
Knitted-down fruits and muscular tannins that are rippled through with juice and salinity. As it opens the palate is flooded with redcurrant, raspberry, white pepper and truffle spice and you get incredible richness coupled floral aromatics, a push and pull between concentration and finesse. 70% new oak, 27% one year barrels with the introduction of 3% amphora from this vintage (no stems used during winemaking at La Conseillante). 32.5hl/h yield after mildew - this is the year that they gave up on organic conversion in order to carry out just one treatment that they felt was essential. Harvest September 19 to October 4.