Chateau la Conseillante 2015

JAMES SUCKLING: "Aromas of tar, black olive skin and blackberries follow through to a full body. Ultra-fine tannins and a long, linear finish with super intensity. Well-crafted in every sense. A fabulous Pomerol for the future. Try in 2022."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "This is bottled decadence. The fruit is pure silk and velvet with its layers of polished, ripe, pure berries. The wine has a great future ahead. Give it until the wine hits its 10th birthday before popping a cork."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Composed of 81% Merlot and 19% Cabernet Franc and aged for 18 months in 70% new and 30% one-year-old French oak, the medium garnet-purple colored 2015 La Conseillante opens with reticent, earthy notes of dusty soil, garrigue, forest floor and iron ore with a core of warm plums, cassis, cigar boxes, star anise and dark chocolate plus a hint of violets. Medium to full-bodied with decadent fruit and a gorgeous plushness to the texture, the palate features impeccable poise and compelling depth, finishing on a lingering mineral note."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Reminding me of the 2009, the 2015 La Conseillante is more overt and sexy compared to the 2016, offering a huge nose of mulled black fruits, spring flowers, chocolate and gravely/clay-like earthiness. This is a full-bodied, complex, elegant and layered 2015 that has a singular character and the class to drink well for 20-25 years."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, zart mit kandierten Veilchen unterlegte intensive dunkle Beerenfrucht, reife Pflaumen unterlegt, mineralischer Anklang, ein Hauch von Röstaromen. Stoffig, extraktsüße Textur, feine Tannine, wirkt zugänglich und frisch strukturiert, ein eleganter Speisenbegleiter mit feinem Nougatfinish, sicheres Reifepotenzial."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Really appetising and cool and fresh. Everything in its place. Sumptuous. Very serious for the long term but already delivering pleasure. Lovely pure finish. Several tasters remarked how much better this tasted than en primeur."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This is a perfumed wine, rich in tannins and with a good balance between the Merlot and Cabernet Franc in the blend. Ripe black fruits and velvet tannins give the wine elegance and charm. It is juicy and ripe, with a background of firm structure set against a crisp final texture. The wine will develop well; drink from 2025. ROGER VOSS"

WINE SPECTATOR: "This is reserved, with subtle Earl Grey tea, singed apple wood and warm fruitcake aromas opening slowly ahead of a core of dark boysenberry, raspberry and blackberry compote flavors. A lovely swath of velvety tannins carries the finish, with the fruit and spice aromas pulling together nicely. Some patience is needed here, but this is one of the elite of the AOC in this vintage. Best from 2023 through 2040. 3,333 cases made."

WEINWISSER: "81 % Merlot, 19 % Cabernet Franc. Selten hatte ein La Consteillante als Fassprobe eine solch dunkle Farbe. Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aussen. Wunderbares Brombeer-Schokobouquet, weit ausladend und mit schöner Würze. Im Gaumen merkt man den floralen Cabernet Franc, samtene Textur, eine wunderschöne, malzige Süsse im füllig-schmelzigen Extrakt, klingt elegant aus und könnte mit Reife noch ein Punkt zulegen."

DECANTER: "A new winemaker and the style tweaked a little in 2015. Fragrant nose but richer and denser with the tannic structure more assertive. Good attack and mid-palate but fit finishes on a slightly dry, grainy note. May improve in barrel."