Chateau La Conseillante   La Conseillante

1982 La Conseillante

By Chateau La Conseillante

1982 La Conseillante from Chateau La Conseillante, Pomerol, Bordeaux

In the pantheon of Bordeaux's vintages, the 1982 La Conseillante from Chateau La Conseillante emerges as a wine of legend – etched into the annals of vinous history. Its birth year, a rubric for superior quality across Bordeaux, has allowed this particular nectar to ascend into the echelons of collectable and investable wines with a grace that speaks volumes of Pomerol's unique gifts.

 

A Quintessential Vintage: Benchmark of Excellence

The 1982 vintage elevates this offering from Chateau La Conseillante far above the common fray. There is an eloquent symmetry to the way it harnesses Pomerol’s terroir - a terroir that year was blessed by climatic grace, resulting in an impeccably balanced season. Herein lies the quintessence of Pomerol's merlot, suffused with cabernet franc’s finesse, resonating a rhapsody that captures both the intensity and subtlety of this extraordinary vintage.

Oft referred to as 'the year that changed Bordeaux', 1982 bestowed upon us wines coveted for their depth, longevity and mesmerising characteristics. The 1982 La Conseillante is no exception; indeed, it stands out for its unabashed power coupled with a refined elegance that bridges four decades.

 

Ornate Complexity: A Tapestry of Aroma and Flavour

Tasting this opulent elixir reveals layers upon layers - with bold blackberry and truffle on the nose, leading to a sumptuous palate swaddled in velvety tannins and a finish defiant in its length. Rested these many years within the tranquillity of cellars, the 1982 La Conseillante transcends mere liquid - it is history in a bottle and poetry to the senses.

The dark fruit nuance melds harmoniously with secondary hints of cigar box and forest floor, not merely hinting at complexity but revelling in it. This wine is an homage to detail—one for contemplation rather than casual sipping.

 

In Vino Veritas: The Timeless Allure of 1982 La Conseillante

For those with a penchant for fine wines—the connoisseurs, the aficionados, or the astute investors—acquiring a bottle of 1982 La Conseillante from Chateau La Conseillante signals an investment imbued with enchanting provenance and assured appreciation. It stands as a testament to an extraordinary vintage which continues to captivate the senses and reward patience. For what we find encapsulated within its garnet depths transcends the transient: it is nothing less than bottled vitality—a vintage apart and one deserving of its storied reverence.

Market price (CAD)

$5,280.00

12x75cl

Highest score

94

POP score

226.43

Scores and tasting notes

94

Having tasted the 1982 Château La Conseillante on numerous occasions, it is fair to say that it has become overshadowed by the 1989 and 1990. Yet it remains not only a prosaically "delicious" Pomerol, but it represents the beginning of a new era for the estate after treading water since the 1960s. This was tasted blind. It has a beautiful, sensual if slightly faded bouquet with mulberry fruit tinged with sage and even a suggestion of black olive that tugs it towards Pessac-Léognan. It lacks the horsepower of the 1989 and 1990, but it is delineated and winsome. The palate is medium-bodied and is brimming over with both finesse and intensity. The quality of the vintage still comes through here, surprisingly deep and voluminous, not as structured as subsequent vintages, but gently fanning out with a subtle wild mushroom note betraying its age on the aftertaste. The bottom line is that this is a lovely, natural La Conseillante perfect for drinking now. Tasted March 2014.

Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 28 July 2016

Vintage performance