A superb effort that transcends the challenges of the vintage, the 2021 La Conseillante offers up a beautifully perfumed nose of wild berries, raspberry coulis, violets, exotic spices and vine smoke. Medium to full-bodied, supple and enveloping, it`s a sensual, seamless wine that`s deep and layered, structured around supple tannins and lively acids. Perfumed and penetrating, the 2021 isn`t the most powerful wine this estate has produced, but it brilliantly exemplifies the rare structural elegance and almost Burgundian aromatic range that so often set this great estate apart from the rest of the Pomerol appellation. It`s a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. 95-96 points

The 2021 La Conseillante, which was bottled at the beginning of June 2023, has a very clean and precise bouquet—predominantly red fruit, iris flower, hints of oyster shell and a distant scent of black truffle, all very focused. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, fresh and demonstrating notable depth. There remains a patina of oak to be subsumed (75% new with 3% in amphora) with flecks of dark chocolate emerging toward the composed finish. This is one Pomerol that will benefit from some bottle-aging, and I notice more pixelation emerging with time in bottle—a classically styled La Conseillante. 13.3% alcohol 94 points

The 2021 is a super-classic La Conseillante the likes of which has not been made here in a very long time. A Pomerol of vibrancy and tension, the 2021 bristles with energy from start to finish. All the elements are so well-balanced. Aromatic and delineated, with terrific drive, the 2021 is so impressive in the early going. Dried herbs, licorice, mocha, cassis and blackberry open beautifully. The 70% new oak is already nicely integrated. To be sure, the 2021 is nervy and taut, as most wines are in this vintage. But it`s all there. 95-97 points

Flavoursome, sculpted, successful, this is rippling with violet and rosebud aromatics, followed by raspberry and black cherry fruits. It maintains momentum through the mid palate with a creamy texture and gourmet touches of liquorice root, cocoa bean and precisely-expressed slate minerality. Harvest began the latest ever, on September 28 through to October 12, 39hl/h yield, almost exactly average for the property (the average in Pomerol this year was closer to 29hl/h), from 9.77ha of vines in production, 3.6ph, 70% new oak with 3% amphora and 3.5% press wine. A successful showing for the 150th vintage of the estate from director Marielle Cazeaux. Michel Rolland consultant. 95 points