Chateau la Conseillante 2023

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "One of the great wines of the vintage, and one that can rival its 2022 counterpart, the 2023 La Conseillante wafts from the glass with a strikingly floral bouquet of violets, lilac, raspberries, exotic spices, candied orange, pipe tobacco and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, supple and fleshy, its textural attack segues into a layered and enveloping core of pure, vibrant fruit framed by sweet tannins and concluding with a long, precise finish. It's a blend of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc, some 30% of which is maturing in amphorae. Harvest began on September 7, lasting until October 2, block by block."

VINUM: "Klar und rein wie immer, das ist pure Eleganz, sensationeller Duft, floral, dunkelfruchtig, da ist dieser Gänsehautduft, der einen nicht loslassen will; gradlinig und kompakt am Gaumen, wie aus dem Stein gemeisselte Tannine, knackig, energiegeladen und mit hervorragender Länge. Ein klassischer Conseillante, der hervorragend reifen wird."

WEINWISSER: "88 % Merlot, 12 % Cabernet Franc, 43 hl/ha, pH 3.68, 14 Vol.-%. Verführerisches rot- und blaubeeriges Parfüm, frische Alpenheidelbeere, bezaubernder Veilchen- und Iris-Duft und edle Cassiswürze. Im zweiten Ansatz Blutorangenzeste, zarte Honignote und Johannisbeernektar. Am vielschichtigen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, energiegeladener Rasse, engmaschigem Tanninkorsett und perfekt geformtem Köper, sehr tiefgründig und präzise. Im konzentrierten, nicht enden wollenden Finale blaue Beeren, Grethers Pastillen und erhabene Adstringenz. Fast so gut wie vergangenes Jahr – Bravo Marielle Cazeaux!"

DECANTER: "A clear stand out in 2023. Dark chocolate, bitter toast, blackcurrant, deep, dark and rich tones on the nose. This has both a vibrancy and a richness, a sense of Pomerol opulence, and a coolness on the nose. Supple and energetic, this has movement and weight, juicy with a touch of creaminess. Smooth and sophisticated but still with a hit of acidity on the back palate that lifts and raises the expression the whole way through. Great stuff, sleek, mineral - very saline with licks of wet stone, graphite and liquorice giving slightly bitter edges, but I love the construction. Serious but also fun. Sleek, not rich and fleshy at all, but there’s a thick silkiness to it, nothing harsh, nothing austere or too tart. Really excellent, sweet strawberry, crunchy cranberry and powdery strawberry - lots of brightness and powderiness so you get texture and tension. Another stellar wine from La Conseillante. Buzzy and tangy, maintaining flavour and focus also with great drinkability on offer. A vintage to age. 7.5% press wine."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 La Conseillante pounces from the glass with playful scents of Morello cherries, wild blueberries, and juicy plums leading to fragrant suggestions of violets, dark chocolate, rosebud tea, and star anise. The medium-bodied palate is wonderfully elegant and graceful, with super-sleek kitten-soft tannins and spectacular tension that delivers an electric feel, although the finish purrs. 85% of this year's crop went in to the First Wine, a blend of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc with pH 3.68."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Violets, black raspberries, spice, chocolate, truffle, and black cherries begin the perfume. The palate is where the wine shines, with its vibrant display of black with red fruits. The striking purity, elegance, and textures, silky tannins, and length leave quite an impression. The adage, "Patience is a virtue" is the key the success this year, as they needed to wait for the desired level of phenolic maturity. The wine blends 88% Merlot with 12% Cabernet Franc. 7.5% press wine. 14% ABV, 3.68 pH. The harvest took place September 7 - October 2. Drink from 2029-2060."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Wow. What beauty, elegance and length in this young wine, with medium body and vivid, bright acidity that gives energy and greater length. The tannins are extremely fine-grained, with an endless, silky texture. Another al-dente wine with brilliance. Goes on for minutes. 88% merlot and 12% cabernet franc."

JEB DUNNUCK: "From yields of 43 hectoliters per hectare, the 2023 Château La Conseillante checks in as a blend of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in 70% new French oak, with 3% in amphora. This deep purple-hued beauty offers up a classic Conseillante nose of red and blue fruits, spring flowers, violets, and spice box, and it's such a great example of the complexity and elegance this estate delivers today. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and elegant, it has plenty of tannins, integrated acidity, and a gorgeous finish. This utterly classic, floral Conseillante will need 5-7 years to hit maturity and have 30 years of longevity. The 2023 hit 14% alcohol with a pH of 3.68."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Schwarze Waldbeeren, Brombeeren, zarte Edelholzwürze, tabakige Würze, zart nach Lakritze und kandierten Veilchen. Saftig, elegant, Kirschen, gute Frische, reife, integrierte Tannine, ein Hauch von dunklem Nugat, harmonisch und lange anhaftend, mineralischer Nachhall, gute Länge, sicheres Potenzial, sehr typischer Appellationscharakter."