Château La Conseillante - Pomerol 1996 6b11bd6ba9341f0271941e7df664d056

Decanter.com

92 / 100

byJane Ansonthe12/1/2017

This is strong on the attack, but lacks some depth through the mid-palate as the soft, brambly fruit unfurls. A menthol freshness peps things up, and this is a wine I'd suggest drinking over the next five to eight years. The tannins here are more intense and grippy than the 1995, but in fact it's not quite as long on the palate.

Wine Advocate

88 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/1999

La Conseillante, a quintessentially elegant, plump, fruit-driven wine (it can even have a Burgundian character in vintages such as 1989 and 1990), has turned out an open-knit, seductive wine in the generally tough-textured, tannic year of 1996. The color is a deep ruby. The wine possesses medium body, and a sweet, open-knit nose of black raspberries intermixed with pain grille, licorice, and smoke. Soft, round, and charming, this terroir's raspberry fruit is well-displayed. This 1996 can be drunk, but should keep nicely for 12-15 years. Anticipated maturity: now-2014.

Wine Spectator

87 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe1/31/1999

Has pretty berry and cherry character with hints of chocolate, a medium body with polished tannins and a chocolate aftertaste. Not overdone, and it's harmonious, though it isn't a great Conseillante. Best after 1999.

Wine Advocate

88-90 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/28/1998

La Conseillante's 1996 is one of the vintage's more sexy, Burgundian-styled wines. The property's hallmarks - open, generously oaked, sweet, creamy textured raspberry and kirsch-like fruit - in addition to purity, roundness, and precociousness, are well displayed. The wine also possesses admirable finesse and elegance, no hard edges, and a seamless, delicious style that is atypical in this tannic, powerful vintage. The 1996 should drink well when bottled, and last for 15 or more years.

Wine Advocate

88-90 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/1997

La Conseillante's textbook style - an open-knit, generously oaked, jammy black-raspberry-scented nose - is present in this medium-weight, seductive, ripe, soft, Burgundian-styled wine. There is a roundness, generosity, and purity to the wine that is admirable. In addition, the medium body, silky texture, and softness must have been difficult to achieve given the tendency for Pomerol to produce relatively diluted wines with excessive structure and tannin. This suave, graceful La Conseillante is a laudable achievement; it should drink well between 1998-2010.