29 May 2012: I attended the La Conseillante dinner organised by the HK Club and Watson's Wine Cellars. We tasted the vintages of 2007, 2006, 2004, 2000 and 1998. The best wine of the evening was unquestionably the 2000 vintage, which still tasted very youthful, with plenty of energy and minerality, underneath the notes of plum, black cherry, blackberry, liquorice and smoke. A very elegant effort that seduces with its voluptuous texture and rich aromas, and impresses by its concentration and intensity of flavours. While we certainly enjoyed the 2000 vintage at this dinner, it would probably benefit from a couple more years of cellaring. The 2000 vintage included a much higher percentage of Merlot (I believe more than 90%), compared to normal vintages. However, given the elevated price of the 2000 vintage, the 2006 would offer a superior price-quality balance. The 2006 was at once seductive and charming, with firm ripe tannins, good acidity and some classic ripe cassis fruit, savoury, spicy and mineral notes. Drinking very well today, but will definitely benefit from further development. Harmonious balance of texture, structure and fruit concentration.
I liked the 2007 vintage for drinking now, but it had this herbal, slightly herbaceous character which I didn't quite like. The 2004 vintage seemed a little angular, lacked charm, even though it demonstrated some lovely dark fruit and spicy character. The 1998 vintage lacked intensity and weight for me. However, it seems that some of us preferred this to the 2000 vintage - perhaps there was some bottle variation??
La Conseillante (http://www.la-conseillante.com/) is surrounded by some rather illustrious neighbours, including Pétrus, Cheval Blanc, Vieux Château Certan and L'Evangile. The vineyard does not completely lie inside Pomerol, and includes around 4 ha in Saint-Emilion. A typical blend would be 80 - 85% Merlot and 15 - 20% Cabernet Franc. The château saw some remarkable vintages in 1982, 1985, 1989 and 1990 and then went through a low before returning to form since the turn of the millenium, particularly marked by 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010 vintages. The second wine Duo de Conseillante was released from the 2007 vintage.
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