20 Vintages of La Conseillante (1947-2020): All wines tasted blind. I have had many beautiful Conseillantes in the past, but in this tasting the wines did not shine as expected. A few thoughts: A) Conseillante is a seductive, sensual wine, not unlike more Bordeaux-esque Napa Valley wines. In fact, it reminded me a lot of Opus One, with the blue and black forest berry aromas found in almost every vintage. B) The fruit is ripe, but never too ripe. But only in the cooler years (and 2020) is the fruit perfectly pure and fresh. C) Even in the newer vintages, the (luxurious) oak notes are still present and will need some time to be fully absorbed. D) My biggest problem (and the group had the same one) was that almost all of the newer vintages showed alcohol notes that weren't noticeable en primeur or in the Arrivage tastings (and the wines were served at a perfect temperature or rather a little too cold). E) There were some beautiful wines, complex and seductive, but La Conseillante is not a wine for classic Bordeaux or Left Bank lovers. Conseillante is the hot one-night stand, not the elegant and intellectually appealing wine I want to drink every day. F) The best wine was the 2020 (96pts, the only score above 95pts), confirming my impression that it is a better, less ripe Bordeaux vintage than 2019.
TN: Infinity complexity on the nose: loads of dried fruit, malty notes, some coffee, dried herbs, Ricola candy, some mushroom aromas. The power, substance and hot summer of 1947 is fully on display. On the palate there is lots of cola notes, dried herbs, malty notes, dried fruit. Much less interesting. While this bottle was past its prime, it was intellectually quite appealing. The others didn’t even try it but I kept my glass for some time and the wine got cleaner and better by the minute. Would have been interesting to follow it for even longer. 92 for the intriguing nose.
Decanting: The bottle was opened a few hours before consumption but not decanted. This particular bottle could have used quite some air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
23 Vintages of Château La Conseillante 1947-2011: TS fill. Prunes and earth, a hint of sweetness; a bit anonymous in the mouth, tannin still there, shortish, fresh. drinkable, but perhaps 30 years past its prime, at least in this bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
opened 3 hours prior to serving from bottle. even more grassy and green than the Canon. Some sweet fruit here, but a little leaner. A little bit of savory soy sauce in the nose
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Charity Auction Dinner with Ancient French Rarities--1924 to 1979 (RN 74, San Francisco): Surprisingly dark for its age. Nose not completely clean-some VA and some brett as well. Big, round and lush but curiously, little complexity or flavor interest. Impressive for its mouth feel, but otherwise, little else and not terribly enjoyable right now. Projecting back in time, this must have been a huge, ripe, almost port-like wine in its day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
10/2/2023 - Cailles wrote: 92 Points
20 Vintages of La Conseillante (1947-2020): All wines tasted blind. I have had many beautiful Conseillantes in the past, but in this tasting the wines did not shine as expected. A few thoughts: A) Conseillante is a seductive, sensual wine, not unlike more Bordeaux-esque Napa Valley wines. In fact, it reminded me a lot of Opus One, with the blue and black forest berry aromas found in almost every vintage. B) The fruit is ripe, but never too ripe. But only in the cooler years (and 2020) is the fruit perfectly pure and fresh. C) Even in the newer vintages, the (luxurious) oak notes are still present and will need some time to be fully absorbed. D) My biggest problem (and the group had the same one) was that almost all of the newer vintages showed alcohol notes that weren't noticeable en primeur or in the Arrivage tastings (and the wines were served at a perfect temperature or rather a little too cold). E) There were some beautiful wines, complex and seductive, but La Conseillante is not a wine for classic Bordeaux or Left Bank lovers. Conseillante is the hot one-night stand, not the elegant and intellectually appealing wine I want to drink every day. F) The best wine was the 2020 (96pts, the only score above 95pts), confirming my impression that it is a better, less ripe Bordeaux vintage than 2019.
TN: Infinity complexity on the nose: loads of dried fruit, malty notes, some coffee, dried herbs, Ricola candy, some mushroom aromas. The power, substance and hot summer of 1947 is fully on display. On the palate there is lots of cola notes, dried herbs, malty notes, dried fruit. Much less interesting. While this bottle was past its prime, it was intellectually quite appealing. The others didn’t even try it but I kept my glass for some time and the wine got cleaner and better by the minute. Would have been interesting to follow it for even longer. 92 for the intriguing nose.
Decanting: The bottle was opened a few hours before consumption but not decanted. This particular bottle could have used quite some air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2023 - Collector1855 wrote: flawed
Chateau La Conseillante 1947-2020 tasted blind: oxidized
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2017 - LWI wrote: 88 Points
23 Vintages of Château La Conseillante 1947-2011: TS fill. Prunes and earth, a hint of sweetness; a bit anonymous in the mouth, tannin still there, shortish, fresh. drinkable, but perhaps 30 years past its prime, at least in this bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2014 - Peech Likes this wine: 93 Points
opened 3 hours prior to serving from bottle. even more grassy and green than the Canon. Some sweet fruit here, but a little leaner. A little bit of savory soy sauce in the nose
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2014 - Lord Rayas wrote: 88 Points
PP's MNSC (HK Club): overwhelming graphite and brett. past its time sadly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/16/2013 - dcwino wrote: 88 Points
Bring something really good dinner – FGs, Pomerol, Y’quem, Leroy, Vogue, Dujac and etc. (The Grill Room at Capella Hotel Georgetown): Not sure if this is a genuine bottle but definitely from the period. Noticeable VA, mostly red fruit driven perhaps cherry, soy and oyster shell. Medium concentration.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2012 - drwine2001 wrote:
Charity Auction Dinner with Ancient French Rarities--1924 to 1979 (RN 74, San Francisco): Surprisingly dark for its age. Nose not completely clean-some VA and some brett as well. Big, round and lush but curiously, little complexity or flavor interest. Impressive for its mouth feel, but otherwise, little else and not terribly enjoyable right now. Projecting back in time, this must have been a huge, ripe, almost port-like wine in its day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/18/2010 - 60ouvrees wrote:
Definitely enjoyable, but appears to be at least 20 years past its best. Others liked this more than me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment