Conseillante

History of Château La Conseillante

The history of Château La Conseillante begins in the 18th century under the impetus of Catherine Conseillan, an influential merchant from Libourne. In 1754, she acquired the lands that today form this exceptional estate and gave it her name, thus leaving an indelible legacy. This 12-hectare vineyard has remained unchanged for nearly three centuries, preserving a unique parcel mosaic.

The year 1871 marks a turning point in the estate's history with its acquisition by the Nicolas family, wine merchants in Libourne. Louis and Nicolas Nicolas, the founders of "Nicolas Frères", breathe new energy into La Conseillante, whose management has been passed down for five generations. Under Louis Nicolas's direction from 1880, technical and commercial innovations emerged. He undertook drainage works on the parcels and founded the Pomerol Wine Syndicate in 1900, contributing to the international reputation of the appellation's wines.

Over the decades, the Nicolas family continued the quest for excellence. In the 1970s, Francis and Bernard Nicolas modernised the estate's facilities, while since 2003, Bertrand and Jean-Valmy Nicolas, members of the fifth generation, have committed to an increasingly environmentally respectful viticulture.

Robert Parker has awarded 100/100 to the 2020 vintage of Château La Conseillante, with 99/100 for 2019 and 98/100 for 2016, 2018 and 1947, underlining the finesse and quality of this exceptional Pomerol.

Terroirs and Vines of Château La Conseillante

The uniqueness of Château La Conseillante lies in its exceptional terroir, located on the border between Pomerol and Saint-Émilion. The vineyard, spanning 12 hectares, is planted on a diversity of soils that impart a unique palette of flavours to its wines. In the Northeast, clay soils are found, particularly favourable to Merlot, while the Southwest is composed of sandy-clay gravel, offering perfect terrain for Cabernet Franc.

This vineyard consists of 16 distinct parcels, some dating back to 1958, and presents a great variety of soils, including grey, red and blue clays, with deposits of iron, gravel and sand. This geological richness allows for a unique expression of the cultivated grape varieties, mainly Merlot (80%) and Cabernet Franc (20%), with a small recent plot of Cabernet Sauvignon. The average age of the vines is 35 years, a crucial factor for obtaining concentrated grapes of exceptional quality.

For several years, Château La Conseillante has been implementing sustainable and responsible agricultural practices. The property is certified ISO 14001 and HVE 3, two standards that underline its commitment to environmentally respectful management. Biodynamic and biocontrol techniques are favoured, as well as the use of plants such as clover and oats to improve biodiversity and soil quality.

Vinification at Château La Conseillante

Château La Conseillante is at the forefront of innovation in the field of winemaking. Since the construction of the circular vat room in 2012, equipped with 22 concrete vats adapted to plot-by-plot vinification, each parcel of the vineyard is vinified separately, allowing the capture and expression of the diversity of terroirs.

The grapes, hand-harvested and carefully sorted, undergo a rigorous selection before being vinified. Malolactic fermentation takes place in the vats, and each plot is vinified with great precision to ensure optimal expression of the terroir. The wines are then aged in French oak barrels, 70% to 80% of which are new, for about 18 months. This ageing method contributes to the complexity and structure of the wines, while giving them exceptional ageing potential.

The modernisation of equipment, combined with a nature-friendly approach, allows La Conseillante to produce wines of great finesse, marked by subtle elegance and distinctive aromas of violet, red fruits and spices.

The cuvées of Château La Conseillante

Château La Conseillante

The estate's grand vin, Château La Conseillante, is renowned for its finesse and elegance. Composed mainly of Merlot, with a touch of Cabernet Franc, it is distinguished by aromas of violet, peony and red fruits, accompanied by spicy nuances. On the palate, it offers a silky texture, supple tannins and a beautiful freshness. After several years of ageing, this wine develops aromas of black truffle, characteristic of great Pomerol Merlots. Thanks to its perfect balance between power and delicacy, La Conseillante is an emblematic wine of the Pomerol appellation, with exceptional ageing potential, often exceeding 20 years.

Duo de Conseillante

Since 2007, Château La Conseillante has also produced a second wine, Duo de Conseillante, from two sandier plots. This wine is less concentrated than its elder sibling, but retains all the delicacy and freshness characteristic of La Conseillante. It is distinguished by its fruity aromas and silky texture, with an ageing potential of two to ten years. Duo de Conseillante is an excellent introduction to the refined world of La Conseillante, offering an accessible experience while respecting the estate's high standards.

Pomerol, one of Bordeaux's most prestigious appellations, has produced some of the finest wines over the decades. The most notable vintages include 1970, 1975, 1982, 1983, 1989, and 1990, renowned for their complexity and longevity. Other exceptional years such as 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010 continue to delight fine wine enthusiasts. More recently, the vintages 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 have confirmed Pomerol's ability to offer wines of exceptional quality, thus cementing the appellation's reputation amongst Bordeaux's finest.

Discover the other great châteaux of Pomerol, true treasures of the Right Bank, where each estate rivals in excellence. Beyond the legendary Pétrus, explore prestigious names such as Beauregard, Bon Pasteur, Clinet, Gazin, Haut Trochaud, L'Eglise Clinet, La Conseillante, La Fleur Pétrus, Lafleur, Le Pin, Latour à Pomerol, Nénin, Trotanoy, or even Vieux Château Certan. These estates, often compared to the great classified growths of Saint-Émilion, offer a unique experience, rich in finesse and character, which will delight connoisseurs of fine wines. 

Château La Conseillante is more than just a wine estate; it is a symbol of excellence and tradition that has managed to cross the centuries without ever failing in its quest for perfection. From its beginnings in the 18th century until today, each generation of the Nicolas family has contributed to the edifice, preserving the integrity of the vineyard and pursuing a policy of continuous innovation. The uniqueness of La Conseillante lies in the perfect balance between tradition and modernity, between respect for the terroir and viticultural innovation. Thanks to its exceptional terroir, its environmentally respectful practices and unmatched expertise, La Conseillante produces wines of rare finesse and elegance, recognised among the best in Pomerol.