About the Wine

Since 1871, the Nicolas family has been at the helm of Chateau La Conseillante. The family’s shared goal has always been to preserve this unique legacy and pass it down to the next generation.

The name "La Conseillante" has a rich history dating back 300 years. It all began when the influential Libourne merchant Catherine Conseillan purchased the estate and gave it the feminine version of her last name: La Conseillante. Known as the "Iron Lady," Catherine undertook a program of renovation and expansion, laying the foundation for the exceptional vineyard we know today.

In 1871, the estate found its way into the hands of the Nicolas family when Louis Nicolas and Nicolas Nicolas acquired it. Louis Nicolas, with his visionary approach, revitalized La Conseillante both technically and commercially. Since 2003, Bertrand and Jean-Valmy Nicolas, representing the fifth generation, have embraced eco-responsibility and sustainable practices, ensuring that La Conseillante's legacy continues to flourish.

Since 2016, La Conseillante has committed to reducing its environmental impact. The estate has achieved ISO 14001 and HVE 3 certification for its environmentally responsible practices.

La Conseillante comprises sixteen vineyard plots, some dating back to 1958. Four soil types have been identified within this mosaic of vines. Expertise has been a cornerstone at La Conseillante, with renowned figures like Professors Emile Peynaud, Pascal Ribereau-Gayon, Gilles Pauquet, Jean-Claude Berrouet, and native son Michel Rolland contributing their knowledge over the years.

2020 was an outstanding year for Bordeaux. Vinous Media blessed this year with a 98-point review and said, "Two thousand-twenty is an exceptional vintage for Bordeaux, certainly the best in the 2018-2020 trilogy. Quality is exceptionally high among the great wines of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol."

Aging: 14 months in French oak barrels,  50% new.

Tasting Notes: 6% Merlot and 24% Cabernet Franc.
See Critical Reviews for detailed tasting notes.

Reviews

One of the wines of the vintage is the 2020 La Conseillante, a blend of 86% Merlot and 24% Cabernet Franc that wafts from the glass with inviting aromas of raspberries, red cherries and mulberries mingled with exotic spices, violets and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and vibrant, it's a beautifully elegant, sensual wine with a deep core of fruit framed by powdery tannins, concluding with a long, extravagantly floral finish. This is a Pomerol of striking purity and sophistication. Congratulations to Marielle Cazaux and her team for surpassing even what they achieved in 2016 and 2019 with this brilliant 2020! ~100 Wine Advocate

Another utterly brilliant wine from this team, the 2020 Château La Conseillante is based on 87% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc that saw 70% new French oak. Unquestionably in the same league as the 2019, this beauty offers an incredible bouquet of pure blue fruits, cassis, violets, spring flowers, and truffle. This carries to a full-bodied, seamless, incredibly elegant, layered Pomerol offering perfect tannins, the vibrant, focused, structured style of the vintage, impeccable balance, and a gorgeous finish. As always, this wine is more about purity, finesse, and elegance than power. It offers pleasure even today yet should be given a decade in the cellar, and it will be a 40- to 50-year wine.~99 Jeb Dunnuck

So much black truffles here with dried earth, too. Black berries. Crushed stone. Plus violets. Full-bodied. Very plush with velvety tannins. Gentle yet very structured. Succulent. Clear and bright. Superb depth and length. Goes on and on. Thoughtful. ~99 James Suckling

A seriously memorable wine from La Conseillante in 2020. Uplifting and glamorous with blackcurrant patisserie, scented flowers - the Cabernet Franc showing itself on the nose, alongside herbal touches with dark chocolate. Immediately juicy and so lively and bright on the palate turning creamy with a combination of chalky and bitter tannins and touches of wet stone lifted by the almost sweet Merlot fruit with freshness all the way through. A real ‘drink me’ wine with balance and harmony that grows and expands as it opens. ~98 Decanter

The 2020 La Conseillante was bottled in the beginning of June. This takes time to unfurl in the glass, blackberry and iris, touches of black truffle and cigar humidor, all beautifully defined. The Cabernet Franc, despite constituting a minor part of the blend plays a major role in the aromatics, lending a touch of black pepper. The palate is medium-bodied with a saline entry, here, the Merlot taking over the steering wheel, fresh and saline, a discreet touch of white pepper mixed with sage and a hint of graphite. Quite persistent in the mouth yet I feel this might close up for a time in bottle. It's quite a serious wine, less flamboyant than the previous vintage, one for hardcore Pomerol aficionados. This is a La Conseillante for long-term ageing. Superb. ~97 Vinous

The wine is dense but the tannins are velvety. The combination gives a wine with obvious power and concentration wrapped in fruit that is perfumed, ripe and shot through with terrific acidity. In the end, those tannins will give the essential structure for long-term aging. ~94-96 Wine Enthusiast 

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