This has always been one of my favourite vintages of La Conseillante. Here a little Cabernet Franc (11%) goes a long way. Ethereal and utterly beautiful on the nose. Soft, delicate, elegant and subtle. Intensely floral, with violets and little hedgerow spring flowers, freshly cut. Has an exquisite balance and harmony, even if it might be said to lack some of the density of ostensibly greater vintages. I can live happily with that; though I’d drink this sooner. Very attractive and the very essence of plateau Pomerol for me. Soft and seductive, with those little truffle notes, blueberries and raspberries; tender and lithe, nicely compact and juicy on the finish.

An absolutely amazing wine from the Nicolas family, this is from another estate in Pomerol that is pushing the envelope to higher and higher quality. The final blend has moved to smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc, now approximately 20%, with the balance 80% Merlot. Through crop-thinning, yields have been reduced to an average of 35 hectoliters per hectare. Inky bluish/purple color and stunning sweet tannins embrace a full-bodied opulent Pomerol with beautiful, floral-infused black raspberry, blueberry and cassis fruit. Full-bodied, yet elegant, this is a brilliant marriage between finesse and power. Stunningly pure, this wine can be drunk young or age magnificently for 20 or more years.

(89% Merlot/11% Cabernet Franc)
Really ripe, engaging nose. Lots of plum and strawberry, the palate is incredibly silky. Concentrated but not sappy, it's energetic. Fresh raspberry and plum, tannins are good but sweet and wrapped in silk. Licorice and plum on the long finish.

Amazing aromas of dried flowers, blueberries and minerals follow through to a full body, fine and polished tannins and a long finish. All in finesse and harmony. Little tight now. Better in 2018. – jamessuckling.com, Feb 2015

Lush notes of dark fig, boysenberry and blackberry pâte de fruit glide over ample but velvety tannins, with suave black tea and ganache accents. This is long and should be gorgeous when finished. – James Molesworth (WineSpectator.com, 2016)

[89M/11CF] Fragrant, minerally nose; supple wine in the vintage, no great concentration, but fresh, elegant, with very fine tannin; sweetly ripe fruit, vital, long and aromatic rather than densely fruity or fleshy, a delicious lightly juicy, feminine fruit, and noticably aromatic length. Not big or grand, but very pure. 2020-30 [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2013]

(89% merlot and 11% cabernet franc): Medium-deep purple-ruby. Pungent minerality lifts subtle, very pure aromas of red fruits, violet, wet stone, ink and cinnamon. Dense, vibrant, sharply delineated flavors of blackcurrant, raspberry, sweet spices and cocoa powder make for a memorable experience. Subtle violet and flint notes lift and extend the very long, minerally, suavely tannic finish. There's insidious sweetness and purity to this almost Burgundian Pomerol; all the elements are in place to make for a remarkable La Conseillante. In my notebook, this is one of the top half-dozen wines of the vintage.

The La Conseillante is a blend of 89% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc (slightly less than usual) delivering 14.2% alcohol, raised in 70% new oak. It was cropped at 38.5hl/ha between 18th September and 1st October for the Merlot, and between 5th and 9th October for the Cabernet Franc. It has a lifted bouquet with broody dark fruit, a little more introspective than the 2011 at this stage with hints of cedar and mint. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins on the opening. It is a more feminine La Conseillante for sure, sedate and natural with an easy-drinking finish that you could almost consume now. The ’12 is very fine – but there is better to come once they have “broken in” their spanking new winery. – eRobertParker.com, May 2013

This is closed up and subdued, majoring on cloves, white pepper spice, raspberry leaf and blackberry. Not as luscious as you find La Conseillante in more recent vintages, there is an enjoyable slate grip to the tannins and smoked sandalwood adding sense of delicacy and appeal, but it is not for long ageing. I would recommend drinking now and over the next decade. 70% new oak.

Mid crimson suggests this was not fiercely extracted. Nicely balanced nose is gentle and mildly floral. Very attractive. Fully ripe. Rather restrained and with the scent of lilies. Finishes dry but not drying. Drink 2016-2030 – jancisrobinson.com, Juin 2013