Château La Conseillante

Château La Conseillante takes its name from Catherine Conseillan, a Libourne iron merchant who founded the estate in the mid-18th century. Wines were being produced and marketed by 1756, making it one of the earliest established estates in Pomerol. The property passed through the Despoujal and Leperche families before Nicolas family acquisition in 1871, and the estate has remained in Nicolas family hands for five successive generations. Current managers are Jean-Valmy Nicolas, Bertrand Nicolas, and Marie-France Nicolas.

• Founded mid-18th century; wines documented as early as 1756
• Ranked 7th in Pomerol in the 1868 Féret classification guide
• Nicolas family ownership continuous since 1871, now in its 5th generation
• Second wine, Duo de Conseillante, introduced in 2007

The estate covers approximately 12 hectares divided into 16 distinct parcels, with the oldest vines dating to 1958. Soils shift from grey clay in the northeast to sandy gravel in the southwest, with blue clay and iron-rich crasse de fer subsoil beneath. The temperate oceanic climate is moderated by proximity to the Dordogne River, and the estate's microclimate tends to be drier than neighboring Saint-Émilion. La Conseillante sits at the crossroads of two of Bordeaux's most famous appellations, with Pétrus, Cheval Blanc, L'Évangile, and Vieux Château Certan as neighboring estates.

• 60% grey clay and 40% sandy gravel soils; iron-rich crasse de fer subsoil
• 16 distinct parcels; oldest vines planted 1958
• Borders Pétrus to the north and Cheval Blanc across the Pomerol-Saint-Émilion boundary
• Drier microclimate compared to Saint-Émilion despite shared oceanic influence

La Conseillante underwent a landmark renovation in 1971, introducing temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks among the first in Pomerol. A further major renovation in 2012 installed 22 concrete vats enabling precise parcel-by-parcel vinification. Cold pre-fermentation soaks of 48 to 96 hours precede fermentation. The grand vin is aged for an average of 18 months in a combination of 70% new barrels, 27% once-filled barrels, and 3% amphorae. Marielle Cazaux has served as winemaker since 2015, with Michel Rolland as consultant oenologist since 2013.

• Cold pre-fermentation soak of 48 to 96 hours
• 22 concrete vats installed in 2012 for parcel-by-parcel vinification
• 18-month élevage: 70% new oak, 27% once-filled barrels, 3% amphorae
• Among the first Pomerol estates to adopt temperature-controlled stainless steel (1971)

La Conseillante is recognized for producing wines of elegance and finesse rather than sheer power. The wines show aromas of violets, red berries, truffles, and chocolate, with a velvety texture, silky tannins, and a mineral character that reflects the estate's complex soils. The estate is unclassified, as Pomerol has no official classification system, but is widely regarded as one of the appellation's great growths. The distinctive violet-colored capsule on every bottle serves as a recognizable signature. Best recent vintages include 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

• Pomerol has no official classification; La Conseillante is informally counted among the appellation's top estates
• Signature aromas: violets, red berries, truffles, chocolate
• Distinctive violet capsule identifies every bottle
• Best recent vintages: 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023