Château La Conseillante

Wine Spectator

90 / 100

par James Suckling le 31/05/1999

An outstanding wine of subtle spice, cherry and herb aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, with ripe fruit and soft tannins. Long, chocolate and spice aftertaste.--1989 Bordeaux horizontal. Best from 2000 through 2006.

Wine Advocate

97 / 100

par Robert Parker le 01/09/1998

This is an upper-ninety point La Conseillante that is very much in the style of the 1990. In comparing the two vintages, the 1989 has slightly more noticeable tannin and structure, but it is a perfumed, exotic, sweet, expansive, yummy wine that is hard to resist. These two wines represent La Conseillante's quintessential smooth as silk style, which often leads consumers to believe the wines will not last. One of the unexplainable facts of Bordeaux wine drinking is that even the softer, delicious, up-front wines can age impeccably when well-stored. Owners of the 1989 La Conseillantes should not hesitate to enjoy them now, as well as over the next 20 years. Last tasted 11/96

Wine Advocate

93 / 100

par Robert Parker le 28/02/1997

I have always thought the 1989 to be the equal of the 1990, although that was not confirmed in this particular tasting. The 1989 revealed a tighter, more backward, restrained style, without the sweet, jammy, spicy, black-cherry/raspberry component that is so pronounced in the 1990. The asterisk beside the 1989's score refers to the two bottles of the 1989 I consumed subsequent to the tasting. I did not think the wine showed as well as it could have in the fall tasting, and my subsequent tasting reinforced that view. This is a mid-ninety point La Conseillante that is very much in the style of the 1990. In comparing the two vintages, the 1989 has slightly more noticeable tannin and structure, but it is a perfumed, exotic, sweet, expansive, yummy wine that is hard to resist. The 1989 and 1990 wines represent La Conseillante's quintessential smooth as silk style, which often leads consumers to believe the wines will not last. I remember feeling the same way about the 1982 (which never tasted as stunning as either the 1989 or 1990). That wine continues to get better and better. One of the unexplainable facts of Bordeaux wine drinking is that even the softer, delicious, up-front wines can age impeccably when well-stored. Owners of the 1989 and 1990 La Conseillantes should not hesitate to enjoy them now, as well as over the next 20 years.

Wine Advocate

97 / 100

par Robert Parker le 28/02/1996

For readers who prefer young wine (I'm a sucker for these exuberant, grapy, unevolved wines), this was an exciting comparative flight. One of the most sumptuous and seductive wines I tasted during the entire week-end was the yummy 1989 La Conseillante. This is what great grand cru Burgundy should smell, taste, and feel like, but so rarely does. It exhibited a Richebourg-like, floral, black-raspberry-scented nose, an extraordinary velvety texture, an expansive, sweet inner-core of fruit, and a glycerin-fattened, smooth finish. It is a gorgeously rich, well-proportioned, elegant yet authoritatively- flavored wine that can be drunk now as well as over the next 15-20+ years. In short, it is a sumptuous, silky, sublime wine. Be sure to try a bottle - it is a terrific young wine. The notes for this wine are taken from the description of Series IV - Flight C of the 1995 tasting conducted in Munich by Helga and Hardy Rodenstock.

Wine Advocate

97 / 100

par Robert Parker le 31/10/1994

How much fun millionaires will have debating the virtues of the 1989 versus the 1990 La Conseillante! The 1989 boasts an awesome bouquet of plums, exotic spices, and vanillin. A wine of brilliant definition, and a remarkable marriage of power and elegance, this fabulously long wine has a sweet finish, with abundant tannin. Anticipated maturity: 1996-2010. I have high hopes that the 1989 and 1990 will prove to be as awesome and ageworthy as the 1949.

Wine Advocate

97 / 100

par Robert Parker le 31/08/1993

The 1989 boasts an awesome bouquet of plums, exotic spices, and vanillin. A wine of brilliant definition, and a remarkable marriage of power and elegance, this fabulously long wine has a sweet finish, with abundant tannin. Anticipated maturity: 1996-2010. Last tasted, 8/93.

Wine Advocate

97 / 100

par Robert Parker le 28/02/1993

The 1989 and the 1990 are this property's greatest efforts since their 1949. The 1989's awesome bouquet of plums, exotic spices, and vanillin is followed by a wine that has brilliant definition, remarkable freshness and depth of fruit, as well as grace and elegance. Fabulously long, pure, sweet, and expansive, with an explosive finish, this wine should be at its best between 1996 and 2015. It was aged in 100% new oak because of its richness. Anticipated maturity: 1996-2010. The 1989 and 1990 may be the finest and richest La Conseillantes made since 1945.

Wine Advocate

97 / 100

par Robert Parker le 30/04/1992

The 1989 is the wine to buy. Tasted ten different times, it is this property's greatest effort since their 1949. An awesome bouquet of plums, exotic spices, and vanillin is followed by a wine that has brilliant definition, remarkable power, but also grace and elegance. Fabulously long, pure, sweet, and expansive, with an explosive finish, this wine should be at its best between 1996 and 2015. It was aged in 100% new oak because of its richness. How much fun millionaires will have debating the virtues of the 1989 versus the 1990 La Conseillante! I should also note that several of Bordeaux's most trusted tasters consider this the wine of the vintage. Since bottling, the wine is displaying more structure and less fragrance, suggesting it will need longer than I initially suspected to open up. Anticipated maturity: 1996-2010. Tasted ten times. Consistent notes.

Wine Advocate

96-98 / 100

par Robert Parker le 28/02/1992

To me, the 1989 La Conseillante tastes like the most concentrated and richest Henri Jayer Richebourg one could ever pour across the palate. Several of Bordeaux's top tasters consider this to be the wine of the vintage. Though I am not willing to go that far, it is the most magical young La Conseillante I have ever tasted. It exhibits an exceptionally sweet, expansive, velvety texture, and an explosively long, generous finish. In each instance (eight separate tastings) I have bestowed on it a whopping score of 96-98. While it may not make old bones, wines of this nature have a tendency to live longer than initially suspected. Over the next 20 years, it will provide some of the most decadent drinking any Bordeaux is capable of rendering. On the downside, La Conseillante is expensive, selling for $650 or more a case, but it is unquestionably of first-growth quality in 1989.