2012 Château la Conseillante, Pomerol, Bordeaux

An absolutely amazing wine from the Nicolas family, this is from another estate in Pomerol that is pushing the envelope to higher and higher quality. The final blend has moved to smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc, now approximately 20%, with the balance 80% Merlot. Through crop-thinning, yields have been reduced to an average of 35 hectoliters per hectare. Inky bluish/purple color and stunning sweet tannins embrace a full-bodied opulent Pomerol with beautiful, floral-infused black raspberry, blueberry and cassis fruit. Full-bodied, yet elegant, this is a brilliant marriage between finesse and power. Stunningly pure, this wine can be drunk young or age magnificently for 20 or more years.Robert M. Parker, Jr. - 30/04/2015

Deep dark crimson. Refined dark fruit - blackcurrant pastilles and a touch cedary. Very precise and fresh and has a nice tightness about it without being highly strung. Even with that refinement it has rich, velvety depth in the middle. Long without evident power. Cool and fluid on the finish. julia_harding MW, JancisRobinson.com, 29 Apr 2013

Less Cabernet Franc than usual (11%). Nose ripe and round with expressive blackcurrant notes. Palate impressive. Long and well-constructed with a certain power. Delicious wine.

The 2012 La Conseillante exhibits a dark ruby/purple color as well as a beautiful, up-front, projected fragrance that includes mulberry and raspberry jam, licorice, lavender and underbrush. Rich and medium-bodied, this attractive effort possesses the estate’s hallmark elegance, finesse and sweet, velvety tannins. It should be approachable in its youth and last for 15+ years. This is another Bordeaux property that appears to be on top of its game, producing wines of great elegance as well as flavor authority. Sandwiched between the border of St.-Emilion and Cheval Blanc, and, on the Pomerol side, l’Evangile, Vieux-Chateau-Certan and Petrus, its terroir has extraordinary potential. robert_parker - Wine Advocate - Apr 2013

Rounded and juicy, with lovely boysenberry and linzer torte flavors coursing along, inlaid with bergamot and blood orange notes. Delivers a polished finish without exhibiting any of the vintage’s sinewy feel. Rock solid and beautifully rendered. A strong showing. james_molesworth, Wine Spectator, April 8 2013