1989 La Conseillante, Pomerol

“The 1989 La Conseillante is one of the top performers in Pomerol and arguably now one of the best values. This bottle confirms that exuberance and joie-de-vivre on the nose, displaying the telltale crushed violets in bloom, with precious but controlled red and black fruit underneath. The palate is sumptuous from the start, presenting cashmere tannin and perhaps a little more glycerine in this bottle. The bravura finish leaves you grinning from ear to ear. Stunning, and it will remain on its plateau for many years. (NM)” (09/2019)

“Having tasted the 1989 Château La Conseillante on more than a dozen occasions, I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that it is one of my favourite Pomerols from the vintage. Although on its day, the 1989 Clinet can outplay La Conseillante, the fact of the matter is that the latter is the more consistent Pomerol. Here, it has that beguiling bouquet of melted black fruit, sage, undergrowth and hints of bacon fat, like a wagging finger inviting you inside. The palate is smooth and harmonious, a mixture of red and black fruit that seem to revel on the precocity of the growing season, even though it was now 27 years ago. It is a voluminous, mouth-filling Pomerol, but not extravagant, flamboyant for sure and yet never betraying its roots. It's just a wonderful La Conseillante, a thoroughbred Pomerol that puts a smile on your face. (NM)” (06/2017)

“The 1989 Château La Conseillante was a wine I totally missed the boat on in my wine merchant days, as I sold quite a bit of this wine and never bought any for my own cellar. The follies of youth! I had not drunk a bottle of this since my report on the 1989 and 1990 Bordeaux vintages back in the spring of 2019 and the wine has just continued to blossom and get better and better over those subsequent years. The bouquet is deep, nicely ripe and classically La Conseillante, offering up scents of red and black raspberries, plums, tobacco leaf, gravelly soil tones, cigar ash, violets and a nice touch of toasty oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, velvety on the attack and plush at the core, with lovely soil signature, melting tannins and a long, seamlessly balanced and very complex finish. Great juice. (Drink between 2024-2065)” (11/2023)

“Offers sweet, dried fruits on the nose, with plum jam and Turkish delight candies. Full-bodied, with big velvety tannins and loads of fruit. Chewy and Porty. Has turned so decadent and yummy over the years. (JS)” (05/2010)

“Very rich start and then a dry finish. Sweet and scented. Admirably fresh. 18/20 points (JR)” (02/2019)