2018 La Conseillante
By Chateau La Conseillante
2018 La Conseillante from Chateau La Conseillante, Pomerol, Bordeaux
The 2018 vintage in Bordeaux was truly a testament to the agility and excellence that the esteemed region represents. A veteran observer of the subtle nuances that each year imprints upon the vines, I find the 2018 La Conseillante from Chateau La Conseillante particularly noteworthy for its harmonious blend of power and grace.
A Vintage of Resilience and Opulence
The climatic journey of 2018 brought challenges that were met with adept precision by the viticultural team at Chateau La Conseillante. An arduous beginning with wet conditions gave way to a glorious summer and autumn, creating an environment for the grapes to reach optimal maturity, yielding fruit with richness and depth.
On tasting, the 2018 La Conseillante reveals a kaleidoscope of complexities entwined with vibrant dark fruit nuances and a noble structure. The plush tannins are meticulously crafted, enrobing the palate in a velvety embrace while maintaining impeccable balance—a hallmark of Pomerol's finest offerings.
An Exemplary Pomerol For Wine Investment
In terms of wine investment, the provenance of Pomerol's 'plateau'—with its illustrious terroir—is unrivalled. This vintage captures such distinction magnificently. Investors will find in the 2018 La Conseillante from Chateau La Conseillante both a formidable addition to their portfolio and a stellar example of what made Bordeaux's 2018 vintage stand out: resilience transfused into liquid opulence.
Echoing across my palate long after the last sip, this wine boasts a lingering finish that signifies not merely quality but pedigree. The promise of this wine unfurling over time suggests a journey as intricate as it is profound—one I anticipate investors will follow with kindred passion.
The synthesis of formidable structure and supple fruit makes the 2018 La Conseillante an emblematic instance of Pomerol excellence, encapsulating both immediate pleasure and the potential for graceful ageing. For those discerning investors who seek to weave together palate satisfaction with investment acumen, this vintage offers an unparalleled narrative in the tapestry of Bordeaux wines.
Market price (SGD)
$3,030.00
12x75cl
Highest score
98
POP score
101.11
Scores and tasting notes
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. It's 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.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 31 March 2021
This is a forceful red, showing blueberry and blackberry character with violets and light wet earth. Clarity and beauty with so much transparency and focus. Full-bodied, firm and silky with lots of white-pepper and salt undertones.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com - April 2019
The 2018 La Conseillante is a blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc, with a 3.65 pH and 14% alcohol. Yields were 32 hectoliters per hectare; Merlot was harvested September 19 to October 1, and Cabernet Franc was harvested on October 4. Very deep purple-black colored, it comes charging out of the gate with energetic notes of wild blueberries, chocolate-covered cherries and warm black plums plus hints of lilacs, damp soil, cardamom and cloves with gentle wafts of cast iron pan and fragrant earth. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with elegant black fruit and earthy layers, framed by soft, velvety tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and mineral laced.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 23rd April 2019
This is extremely good quality with a lovely persistency, luscious and luxurious with richly textured tannins that place you perfectly in the heart of Pomerol. It’s inky and concentrated with clear liquorice from the start and an abundance of flowers and fruit; violets and iris followed by black chocolate alongside subtleties of woodsmoke and coffee that curl out of the glass after a few minutes. It has bouncy tannins with a 95IPT but they're so hugely silky that you can be pretty sure this is going to age every bit as well as the 2016. They continued with all biodynamic and organic farming here except for one treatment during flowering against mildew which meant they had to stop the certification process. 3% will be aged in amphoras, the rest in barrel. Michel Rolland consults. A yield of 32hl/ha. 3.65pH.
Jane Anson - Decanter - April 2019
The 2018 La Conseillante is magnificent. A wine of real vertical lift and explosiveness, the 2018 is distinguished by its spine of energy, freshness and purity of fruit. Inky blue/purplish berry fruit, mocha, lavender spice and mint develop in the glass, but it is the wine's overall sense of harmony that truly stands out. The 2018 showed tremendous vibrancy and vitality, with superb mid-palate richness and phenomenal balance all three times I tasted it. It is without question one of the wines of the vintage. The blend is 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc. This is the first vintage that includes a touch of wine aged in amphora, just 3%. Don't miss it!
Antonio Galloni - Vinous - April 2019