Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 La Conseillante sashays out of the glass with the most gorgeous notes of lilacs, Black Forest cake, kirsch and black raspberries plus nuances of cinnamon stick, dark chocolate and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a firm, finely grained texture with bags of perfumed black fruits and wonderful freshness, finishing very long and very fragrant.- LPB

The 2017 La Conseillante is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps with notions of black and red cherry preserves, fresh black plums, and mulberries, plus hints of aniseed, Jasmine tea, and fragrant earth. Medium-bodied, elegant, and lively in the mouth, it has intense red berry and floral layers, finishing with a minerally lift. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Sophisticated, sexy and fresh, the wine is lenient and silky. There is a strong violet sensation along with black cherry, boysenberry, truffle and dark chocolate. The wine is classic in style but in a virtuous way. There is depth and volume. On the palate, you'll experience sweet, bright, fresh, dusty, chocolate-covered plums. The harvest took place September 5 to September 9. The wine was made from blending 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, reaching 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.65.

A lighter vintage overall, with delicacy and finely-spun tannins. The fruit is sculpted raspberry and red cherry, clearly will be ready to drink before the 2015 and 2016, lots to enjoy with delicate tomato leaf, grilled oak, chocolate shavings and liquorice root. Not too much frost here at La Conseillante, just one small plot at the bottom of the vineyard, so yields were 34hl/ha. 70% new oak.

A young red with sweet fruit and very fine tannins, which have a creamy and almost salty sensation. Medium to full body. Blackberries, dark chocolate and bark. Some black tea, too. It shows an energy and tension. The creamy tannins give polish and beauty. Better after 2023.

Softly nuanced aromatics with gorgeous floral notes and fine aromatics. This is less structured and with a cooler vintage character than the vintages of either side of the 2017 but there is so much pleasure to be had here, finesse, personality, salinity, but there is also concentration here as it opens; Lovely wine easily one of the highlights of 2017 vintage. 70% new oak, 30% one year barrels. Harvest September 5 to 29. A year where much of Bordeaux was impacted by frost, but here at La Conseillante they lost just one small plot at the bottom of the vineyard, leaving yields of 34hl/ha.

A tobacco leaf accent pierces the large core of raspberry, plum and blackberry compote flavors, injecting energy as this moves along, pulling juniper, bramble and black tea notes through the finish. Shows lots of detail and energy on the finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2038. — JM

Darker notes of iron, truffly earth, and subtle minerality emerge from the 2017 Château La Conseillante. Round and supple on the palate, with impressive concentration, it has velvety tannins, an undeniable chalky minerality, and bright acidity, and it benefits notably from air. This beautiful, classically styled La Conseillante needs 3-5 years of bottle age and will drink well through 2045.

The 2017 La Conseillante has firmed up in recent months. This bottle was decanted for a couple of hours, and to be frank, I had reckoned on it being more open. More fool me! This is tight and intense on the nose, beautifully defined yet clearly shutting down. The firmness that I alluded to in my previous note is more accentuated, and as such, I would give this several years before broaching. -- Neal Martin