Robert Parker: Wine Advocate # 188. Apr 2010. Reviewer : Robert Parker. Now that La Conseillante is making a second wine with more severe selection, think of the 2009 as a version of the 2000 on steroids. This is never going to be a blockbuster wine, because the terroir just seems to produce silky, elegant wines, but in this case, the 2009 has an extra kick and level of concentration that is unprecedented. Inky bluish purple, with an extraordinary nose of framboise, black raspberries, spring flowers, spice box, and a hint of truffle, the wine has great depth, full-bodied opulence, silky tannins, enormous power and richness, but again, a vibrancy and uplift that are just freakish in this vintage. That’s one of the great hallmarks of 2009 and one that will always stand out over the next 30 years. This wine should be drinkable in 5-7 years and last 40 or more. (Tasted three times.). Drink: 2015 - 2055.
Jancis Robinson: Published : 08-Apr-2010. Very dark. Though no darker than the Duo. Not much nose – less expressive than the Duo! Very rich and intense. Super-ripe. Taken to an extreme of ripeness? A bit overripe. Lacks acidity. I think I prefer the Duo. Heavy with a bit of tarriness on the finish. I’d love to taste this again but on this showing I fear there is not enough acid and too obvious tannin. When I subsequently tasted this blind, I wrote ' Sweet and almost Argentine on the nose! None of Bordeaux’s subtlety here. I can’t really see the point. And awfully drying on the finish.' When to drink : 2015 to 2023.
Wine Spectator: Updated: April 15, 2010. Such wonderful clarity to this wine, with violets, black and exotic fruits. Fabulous nose. Full-bodied, with superfine tannins and a silky, silky finish. Such beauty. Really stunning. Class. —J.S.
Decanter: James Lawther MW, Decanter.com, 18.5 pts - "Remains true to the refined, elegant house style but with added depth and concentration. Lovely fruit. Smooth, velvety tannins. Brilliant wine. Drink 2020-2040."
Chris Kissack, thewinedoctor.com, (March 2010), 17.5-18.5+/20pts - "Tasted twice. This is 81% Merlot and 19% Cabernet Franc. Alcohol 14.2%. Lovely fruit quality on the nose, pure damson character, very sweet and evocative, seems a touch jammy at first although a second taste later in the day did not suggest this so much. Certainly a very plush style though. The palate confirms this, sweet fruits, damson and plums, violets, fresh and bright with a good layer of grippy tannin underneath. Quite a polished style, balanced, the tannins deliciously ripe and velvety. Just a hint of warmth belying that firm alcoholic seam. But otherwise extremely good, with delicious and complex potential."
Neal Martin, erobertparker.com, 96-98pts - "Tasted at La Conseillante, cropped between 17th and 28th September at 39.5hl/ha and coming in with 14.2% alcohol, the ’09 La Conseillante has a very refined bouquet, with dark berried fruit, sloe, a touch of dried orange peel and crushed stones. The understated nature of this Conseillante is a joy to behold. The palate is medium-bodied, slightly grainy tannins, very good balance, very natural and handling that alcohol better than many other Right Banks. Nice grip on the finish, just a touch of astringency, but complex with minerals, some smoky notes developing in the glass. This 2009 brims with character and is undoubtedly one of the great Conseillante’s of modern times. Just ethereal. Tasted April 2010."
Tim Atkin, www.timatkin.com, 96 pts - "This is a comparatively forward La Conseillante, with slightly higher alcohol than normal. There’s a fair amount of oak here, with sweet fruitcake and raspberry fruit flavours, but the tannins are supple and there’s enough acidity to keep the wine from cloying. A wine for hedonists, this is more of a medium term red than a keeper. 10+ years."
Vinification: The harvest is manual, with the fruit sorted by an arrangement of four sorting tables, and destemmed prior to a cold maceration and fermentation which is carried out according to plot of origin. The malolactic tends to begin in vat, prior to running off and then gentle pressing, before being finished off in barrels, between 80% and 100% new each vintage, where the wine will rest for up to eighteen months, with a racking every third month. There is an egg white fining prior to bottling, but filtration is avoided. Selection and blending occurs when the wine is still in barrel, with the best lots destined for the grand vin.
