La Conseillante 2018 (3L)

98 Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "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." 03/21

97 Points, Neal Martin, Vinous: "The 2018 La Conseillante was given a two-hour decant and then monitored over the following 12 hours. What a stupendous Pomerol! It has a bravura nose that immediately seduces the olfactory senses, delivering a cornucopia of black cherries, cassis, crushed violets and iris. Such intensity here, and then it blossoms, accentuating its floral component while retaining the DNA of Pomerol. The palate is exquisitely balanced with fine tannins that frame the pure black cherry and strawberry fruit. But it is the texture and the harmony of this La Conseillante that knocks you sideways, that tertiary finish that I noticed out of barrel gone, replaced by satin-textured, almost citrus-fresh fruit. Marielle Cazaux and her team have overseen a brilliant La Conseillante." 03/21

98 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "The 2018 La Conseillante is a regal and utterly exquisite Pomerol from the very first taste. Technical Director Marielle Cazaux and her team turned out a jewel of a wine. Silky tannins and lifted, precise aromatics make a strong first impression. Inky dark fruit, pain grillé, lavender, spice, menthol and a kiss of new French oak all flesh out over time. More than anything else, what comes through is the new emphasis at La Conseillante on freshness and verve. The 2018 is a Pomerol of tremendous precision. It is, in a word: dynamite!" 03/21

97 Points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com: "A dense, layered Pomerol with lots of chocolate, walnut, and plum character. Some coffee undertones. It’s full-bodied with chewy, polished tannins and a structured, muscular finish. Solid. Elegance with power. 2018. Try after 2025." 01/21

93 Points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator: "Nicely packed, with a mix of dark plum and black currant preserve flavors wrapped with licorice root and warm earth notes. Tobacco and bay fill in on the finish, adding energy and cut. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2034." 01/21

94-96 Points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast: "Partial aging in amphorae and a mix of barrels gives this rich wine structure, but with a light touch. Its acidity and freshness come from attractive berry flavors that offer lift and a crisp, crunchy finish." 04/19

95 Points, Jane Ansen, Decanter: "This is pretty austere at the moment and needs some time to open, but there are curls of floral notes. Certainly extremely concentrated right now, with a lot of muscular tannins and deep black pepper. Not hazelnut exactly but certainly grilled oak notes. Going back after 20 minutes the nuances and subtleties start to become clearer. Beautiful. 70% oak for 16 months, with 3% in amphorae for the first time." 11/20

97+ Points, Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com: "A beautiful expression of this terroir, which always seems to yield a more elegant, complex style of wine, the 2018 Château La Conseillante is based on 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc that saw 70% new French oak. A brilliant perfume of blueberries, currants, spring flowers, violets, and graphite gives way to a medium to full-bodied Pomerol with flawless balance, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. It closes down rather quickly with time in the glass (I followed the bottle for multiple days), and it isn't for the instant gratification crowd, but it's unquestionably a gorgeous Pomerol. Give bottles a solid 8-10 years of bottle age, and it's going to evolve for 25-30 years in cold cellars." 03/21