(82% merlot and 18% cabernet franc): Bright ruby. Knockout aromas of dark cherry, raspberry and violet, complicated by graphite and coffee. Clean, fresh and very pure, offering dark berry and flinty flavors of above-average precision. Finishes with suave, rising tannins. The house signature of refinement and purity of fruit enables me to recognize this wine blind almost every time in a battery of Pomerol wines. A lighter-style La Conseillante, it's nonetheless one of my favorites of the vintage.

The 2013 La Conseillante definitely has one of the better Pomerol aromatic profiles with light, clean and fresh black cherry and cranberry scents, a touch of potpourri developing behind. The palate is medium-bodied with bitter cherry and cranberry notes, the oak jutting out a little at present and drying the finish. Austere for the normally more succulent and fleshier La Conseillante, hopefully it will coalesce with 3 or 4 years in bottle.

Richer than most with some savour and character. Really quite enjoyable! In a fairly lightweight way … (JR)

Tasted blind. Mid garnet. Not very open but has suggestion of fine, dark fruit – a touch leafy. Lively and quite gentle but refined in texture and just in balance. (JH)