2008 Château la Conseillante, Pomerol, Bordeaux
Critics reviews
Robert M. Parker, Jr. - 02/05/2011
Jancis Robinson MW - jancisrobinson.com - Apr 09
James Suckling - Wine Spectator - Apr-2009
This estate has long been known for its elegant, complex, racy, supple, delicious wines, but the 2008 is more massive, structured, and concentrated than usual. There is a lot going on in this richer, more tannic effort. No one will be disappointed, but purchasers should not expect a wine that will be drinkable upon release. A dense ruby/purple color as well as plenty of concentration, sweet, but elevated tannins, and a huge finish suggest this estate is moving in the direction of Gazin, Lafleur, and Trotanoy.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - Apr-2009
About this WINE
Chateau la Conseillante
Château La Conseillante is amongst the crème de la crème of Pomerol producers. It can trace its history back to 1735 and has been in the hands of the Nicolas family since 1874.
La Conseillante's 13 hectares of vineyards are located on a plateau in eastern Pomerol on the boundary with the St-Emilion appellation. Its vineyards border those of L`Evangile, Petit-Village, Vieux Château-Certan and Cheval Blanc.
La Conseillante is a blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec. The grapes are harvested by hand and are then fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. The wine is then aged in small oak casks (90% new) for 18-20 months. It is bottled unfiltered.
Pomerol
Pomerol is the smallest of Bordeaux's major appellations, with about 150 producers and approximately 740 hectares of vineyards. It is home to many bijou domaines, many of which produce little more than 1,000 cases per annum.
Both the topography and architecture of the region is unremarkable, but the style of the wines is most individual. The finest vineyards are planted on a seam of rich clay which extends across the gently-elevated plateau of Pomerol, which runs from the north-eastern boundary of St Emilion. On the sides of the plateau, the soil becomes sandier and the wines lighter.
There is one satellite region to the immediate north, Lalande-de-Pomerol whose wines are stylistically very similar, if sometimes lacking the finesse of its neighbour. There has never been a classification of Pomerol wines.
Recommended Châteaux : Ch. Pétrus, Vieux Ch. Certan, Le Pin, Ch. L’Eglise-Clinet, Ch. La Conseillante, Ch. L’Evangile, Ch. Lafleur, Trotanoy, Ch. Nenin, Ch. Beauregard, Ch. Feytit-Clinet, Le Gay.
Merlot
The most widely planted grape in Bordeaux and a grape that has been on a relentless expansion drive throughout the world in the last decade. Merlot is adaptable to most soils and is relatively simple to cultivate. It is a vigorous naturally high yielding grape that requires savage pruning - over-cropped Merlot-based wines are dilute and bland. It is also vital to pick at optimum ripeness as Merlot can quickly lose its varietal characteristics if harvested overripe.
In St.Emilion and Pomerol it withstands the moist clay rich soils far better than Cabernet grapes, and at it best produces opulently rich, plummy clarets with succulent fruitcake-like nuances. Le Pin, Pétrus and Clinet are examples of hedonistically rich Merlot wines at their very best. It also plays a key supporting role in filling out the middle palate of the Cabernet-dominated wines of the Médoc and Graves.
Merlot is now grown in virtually all wine growing countries and is particularly successful in California, Chile and Northern Italy.
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Description
Situated next door to Petrus and Cheval Blanc this gave me more instant pleasure than both this year. Glorious, sexy, seductive; these were the words that sprang to mind when tasting 2008 Ch. la Conseillante. One of our 2008 favourite wines on the Right Bank, this just exudes Burgundian class, all held together with a rich Bordeaux core. With an opulent, beautifully perfumed nose of almost Ribena-like concentration, this has layers and layers of fruit and a powerful, chocolate finish carried by an excellent ball of fruit all wrapped up with grainy tannins that lasts across the palate and beyond.
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