Description
Lisa Perrotti-Brown 95-97 points www.robertparker.com
The 2017 La Conseillante displays a deep garnet-purple color and simply sings of crushed blueberries, mulberries and ripe plums with suggestions of violets, chocolate box, rose hip tea and a waft of menthol. The palate is medium-bodied with impressive richness at this elegant weight coupled with vivacity and supported by plush, velvety tannins, finishing with great length and energy. This is an arrestingly beautiful expression of this vintage!
Neal Martin 93-95 points www.vinous.com
The 2017 La Conseillante contains a little less Cabernet Franc than usual because four or five rows were damaged by frost. It has a classic Pomerol bouquet with touches of truffle and incense infusing the broody black fruit that take a few minutes to unwind in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, well balanced with a subtle sprinkling of white pepper and fennel. The Cabernet Franc, despite its diminished contribution, is quite expressive towards the balsamic-tinged finish that shows plenty of energy and decent persistence. It is less powerful than the 2016 at this stage but it is clearly a very well crafted, almost sensual Pomerol by winemaker Marielle Cazaux. Tasted twice with consistent notes, this may well settle at the top of my banded score once in bottle.
Jean-Marc Quarin 96 points www.quarin.com
Couleur sombre, intense, belle et profonde. Nez intense, complexe, subtil, riche et très sophistiqué. Un mélange de truffes, de fleurs, de crème fraîche, de réglisse, de goudron. Incroyable ! Moelleux en entrée de bouche, très savoureux puis profond au milieu, il évolue complexe, juteux et gras avec beaucoup de goût et une grande tension de structure. Longue finale séveuse, réglissée et noble. C’est incrachable ! À la fois le gras de Petrus et les nuances fleuries de la Conseillante. Bravo ! Assemblage 85 % de merlot, 15 % de cabernet franc. Degré d’alcool : 13°5 ; pH : 3.36 ; rendement : 34 hl/ha.
Antonio Galloni 94-97 points www.vinous.com
The 2017 La Conseillante is a wine of total finesse and class. Bright, floral and beautifully lifted, the 2017 is exceptionally polished and nuanced from start to finish. Despite its mid-weight, gracious personality, the 2017 has real staying power. Technical Director Marielle Cazaux gave the fruit about 2 days on the skins, with no SO2 at crush. Cazaux added that the malos were quite fast. The blend is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. Frost reduced production by around 15%, while drought further reduced yields in the Franc by a further 10%. As for the wine, well, the 2017 was magnificent on each of the three occasions I tasted it.