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1985 La Conseillante
98 DEC
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Review
(Château La Conseillante, Pomerol, Red) More than three hours after it was opened and decanted, this imperious 32 year old Pomerol had only gained in complexity and depth on the nose and palate. Initially a little shy and closed, this bottle simply began to blossom and flourish as floral violet notes vied for attention with cedary cassis, cherry, ink, musk, truffle, leather and a leafy undergrowth note. Beguilingly supple, tense, fresh and vital, this sublimely mature and supremely elegant wine in double magnum form should last for another 15-20 years. Pure pleasure. (Drink between 2017-2037) Decanter
Decanter | 98 DEC
Critic Reviews
(Château La Conseillante, Pomerol, Red) More than three hours after it was opened and decanted, this imperious 32 year old Pomerol had only gained in complexity and depth on the nose and palate. Initially a little shy and closed, this bottle simply began to blossom and flourish as floral violet notes vied for attention with cedary cassis, cherry, ink, musk, truffle, leather and a leafy undergrowth note. Beguilingly supple, tense, fresh and vital, this sublimely mature and supremely elegant wine in double magnum form should last for another 15-20 years. Pure pleasure. (Drink between 2017-2037)
Decanter | 98 DEC
This is a wine sometimes thought to be overshadowed by the estate’s own 1989, though it is clearly beginning to put this in doubt. I have opened a number of bottles from the vintage recently, and they were spectacular. It’s a wine that evolves with time, showing black olives, berries, chocolate and hints of cedar. It’s full-bodied, very balanced and showing bright acidity and a beautiful finish. An incredibly intense Pomerol with fresh herb undertones.
James Suckling | 98 JS
(Château La Conseillante) One of the finest vintages of La Conseillante of the last twenty-five years, this is a wine that I always regret not purchasing as a future. I can vividly recall the first time I tasted the wine at a 1985 Right bank tasting (with all the major wines except Pétrus, Lafleur and Certan de May present) where it placed first. Over the years, it has continued to develop beautifully, and is now a very, very suave, creamy middleweight that perfectly captures the spirit of the vintage. The nose offers up scents of crushed raspberries, coffee, notes of dill, chocolate, tobacco, grilled nuts, minerals and sweet vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is medium-full, round and creamy, with a juicy core of fruit and modest tannins giving the wine fine grip on the long, complex finish. A lovely, lovely wine that has drunk well for years, but is still a few years away from its absolute apogee. Quintessential La Conseillante. (Drink between 2000-2040)
John Gilman | 94 JG
The 1985 Château La Conseillante has long been one of my favorite vintages of this decade and this ex-château bottle, opened by co-proprietor Valmy Nicolas, did nothing to change that opinion. The nose is disarming with those gorgeous warm gravel scents infusing the melted red berry fruit. This is Pomerol through and through, fully mature yet still captivating. The palate is beautifully balanced with fine tannin, moderate depth, displaying that fleshiness and comeliness that the finest 1985 Pomerol wines possess. It is almost easy-drinking in nature, so much so that you almost miss its inherent complexity. At its peak now, if you own any bottles, enjoy them now, though larger formats will offer 10-15 years of pleasure. Tasted November 2015.
Robert Parker Neal Martin | 94 RP-NM
The 1985 La Conseillante is a vintage that I have tasted on several occasions and certainly it represents one of the highpoints of that decade for the estate. As I noted in my Pomerol tome, its fleshiness has dissipated in recent years, yet it still remains well balanced and fresher than say, the 1986 or 1988. Often notes for its warm gravel scents on the nose, the palate is like warming your hands at a fireside hearth on a cold winter's day. It just gives you a glow, so much so that you overlook its shortcomings, perhaps a lack of complexity and precision. Tasted and served blind at a private dinner in Bordeaux.
Vinous Media | 94 VM
Beautifully defined black currant, plum, anise and herbal flavors with richness, depth and elegance that keep you coming back for more. Has the concentration, structure and balance for the long term.
Wine Spectator | 93 WS
Decanter | 98 DEC
This is a wine sometimes thought to be overshadowed by the estate’s own 1989, though it is clearly beginning to put this in doubt. I have opened a number of bottles from the vintage recently, and they were spectacular. It’s a wine that evolves with time, showing black olives, berries, chocolate and hints of cedar. It’s full-bodied, very balanced and showing bright acidity and a beautiful finish. An incredibly intense Pomerol with fresh herb undertones.
James Suckling | 98 JS
(Château La Conseillante) One of the finest vintages of La Conseillante of the last twenty-five years, this is a wine that I always regret not purchasing as a future. I can vividly recall the first time I tasted the wine at a 1985 Right bank tasting (with all the major wines except Pétrus, Lafleur and Certan de May present) where it placed first. Over the years, it has continued to develop beautifully, and is now a very, very suave, creamy middleweight that perfectly captures the spirit of the vintage. The nose offers up scents of crushed raspberries, coffee, notes of dill, chocolate, tobacco, grilled nuts, minerals and sweet vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is medium-full, round and creamy, with a juicy core of fruit and modest tannins giving the wine fine grip on the long, complex finish. A lovely, lovely wine that has drunk well for years, but is still a few years away from its absolute apogee. Quintessential La Conseillante. (Drink between 2000-2040)
John Gilman | 94 JG
The 1985 Château La Conseillante has long been one of my favorite vintages of this decade and this ex-château bottle, opened by co-proprietor Valmy Nicolas, did nothing to change that opinion. The nose is disarming with those gorgeous warm gravel scents infusing the melted red berry fruit. This is Pomerol through and through, fully mature yet still captivating. The palate is beautifully balanced with fine tannin, moderate depth, displaying that fleshiness and comeliness that the finest 1985 Pomerol wines possess. It is almost easy-drinking in nature, so much so that you almost miss its inherent complexity. At its peak now, if you own any bottles, enjoy them now, though larger formats will offer 10-15 years of pleasure. Tasted November 2015.
Robert Parker Neal Martin | 94 RP-NM
The 1985 La Conseillante is a vintage that I have tasted on several occasions and certainly it represents one of the highpoints of that decade for the estate. As I noted in my Pomerol tome, its fleshiness has dissipated in recent years, yet it still remains well balanced and fresher than say, the 1986 or 1988. Often notes for its warm gravel scents on the nose, the palate is like warming your hands at a fireside hearth on a cold winter's day. It just gives you a glow, so much so that you overlook its shortcomings, perhaps a lack of complexity and precision. Tasted and served blind at a private dinner in Bordeaux.
Vinous Media | 94 VM
Beautifully defined black currant, plum, anise and herbal flavors with richness, depth and elegance that keep you coming back for more. Has the concentration, structure and balance for the long term.
Wine Spectator | 93 WS
Wine Details for 1985 La Conseillante
| Type of Wine |
Bordeaux Red
: Picture in your mind a combination of cedar, lead pencil, blackcurrant, plum and mineral aromatics, and texture that caresses your palate like a playful lover. The experience is thrilling from the first whiff to the final seconds of a tannic, generous finish - that is what you'll get from a Bordeaux Red |
|---|---|
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
| Country |
France
: Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world. For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide. France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity. France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive. |
Overview
| Producer | La Conseillante |
|---|