La Conseillante 2015

Mid crimson with ruby rim. Seductive aroma of dark-red fruits, a hint of violets, and the scent carries through onto the palate, where the tannins are super-smooth but compact. A long, complete wine. (JH) 14.5%Drink 2024-2040

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. 2020 - 2040

The nose has concentrated richness the start of the palate power with depth of black fruits. Rich ripe black plum on the mid palate is backed by firmer fresher black cherry layers of complex flavours. Meaty and rich at the back supple and velvety the finish has power and depth. 2025-40

There’s less of a gap in quality between the Grand Vin and the second wine (Duo) in 2015,partly because the latter is so good, but also because this is just a little OTT. Serious, tannicand quite extracted with a hint of jammyness on the finish. Needs a polish in barrel.Drink: 2022-30

The nose here is incredibly concentrated but slightly inexpressive. Loaded with dark fruit, violets and dark chocolate. Incredibly silky on the palate, almost voluptuous with lots of padding and power. Incredible balance and length. A very serious wine. Uber-fine tannin which is perfectly integrated. Flawless and seamless. Although this is sensational now, I would be inclined to leave it a few years.

A very dense and more focussed wine than in the past, the wider shoulders and more grip mean that this is going to bea longer-lived wine with more potential glory in the future. This is a highly perfumed La Conseillante with more size andpower and yet there is no exoticism here, just deep, dark concentration. Fabulously strict and tense, very long and noblethis is a quietly confident and very centred wine without a trace of boastfulness or front. I was transfixed with this wine,finding is rather amazing and it just started to open up as I swirled vigorously with magical fruit peaking over the rimof the glass.

The 2015 La Conseillante has a refined bouquet with red currant, wild strawberry and rose petal aromas, beautifully defined and unfurling in the glass. A hint of black truffle emerges with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple black cherry fruit, cassis and boysenberry. Quite "slick" toward the finish suggesting a little more extraction than its peers that smothers the mineralité I noted in the vertical last spring. But it is supremely well balanced and it should mature with style. I have encountered better bottles but it remains a great Pomerol. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

The 2015 La Conseillante has a sophisticated bouquet with pure, mineral-driven red fruit laced with truffle and minerals. There is a subtle floral tincture to this La Conseillante, quite feminine and almost understated. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, very harmonious and supple in the mouth yet there is a superb structure underneath, while the finish feels pixelated. There is a faint semblance to the 2016 Clinet this year, although I suspect this will need longer to reach its peak. This is a great wine from winemaker Marielle Cazaux. Anticipated maturity: 2024 - 2045.

The 2015 La Conseillante, a blend of 81% Merlot and 19% Cabernet Franc, is extraordinarily pure and elegant on the nose. Here, I find a little more red fruit than black fruit, extremely elegant and articulating the terroir with great clarity. At first, wild strawberry and cranberry, then crushed stone, a touch of black truffle and tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied, fresh and elegant with fine tannin on the entry. This is one of the most approachable La Conseillante wines that I have tasted in barrel, the acidity very well judged, "classic" in style, good backbone here with a structured finish. It does not quite possess the bravura of the 2010 La Conseillante and I would agree with winemaker Marielle Cazaux that it bears more semblances to the 2005 La Conseillante at this stage, and even bore common traits with its neighbour, Vieux Château Certan. This is an intellectual and to put it prosaically, "delicious" La Conseillante. Drink 2021-2045.

This is the most powerful La Conseillante I have tasted with lots of muscle and intensity. Full and savory. Chewy. Agile and formed. Beautiful ripe fruit in the center palate. This is a little pushed to the limit like the great Conseillants of the 1960s and 1970s.

Direct, savoury nose. New winemaker wants to keep the aromas of Conseillante but they want to add a little more grip. Sweet and fresh with some tea leaf aromas. The oak tannins are just perceptible but it should all calm down. Definitely quite grippy now! 14.5%Drink 2026-2040