Christie Kiley on December 8, 2014 0 Comments It’s Christmas, which makes for a good excuse to spoil oneself. If you are a wine collector, maybe there are some bottles which need a little long-deserved attention. You can’t drink it when you dead! Go ahead and enjoy it. If you find yourself without a decent wine collection and you want to enjoy a wine that has already been kept for you with some good bottle time, here is a wine that fits into that category and it has been waiting a decade just for you. L’histoire The name, Conseillante began in about mid-18th century by the lady who ran the property three hundred years ago, a Mrs. Catherine Conseillan. The estate was purchased in 1871, by the Nicolas family and is still owned by them today. Nothing much has changed in making quality, elegant and great wine except maybe a winery renovation with modern equipment. Five generations later, Conseillante is managed by Bertrand and Jean-Valmy Nicolas and directed by Jean-Michel Laporte. The estate is located on one of the most symbolic properties in the Bordeaux wine region of Pomerol and is noted for its terroir with soils made up of clay, home to eighty percent of their Merlot vines for refined wines of depth and rounded character. The other twenty percent of their humble twelve hectares of vine is Cabernet Franc, growing in gravelly soil making wine to blend in added structure and fresh fruits. I mentioned a bit about the modern equipment. Today, the winery holds a new vat-house with a sufficient amount of tanks to vinify each of their individual plots separately. In this manner, they are able to maintain the integrity of each separate vineyard and the aspect of each terroir. This is a fairly new practice for Conseillante, but crafting beautiful wines to mirror and be representative of the property has always been of the utmost importance from one generation to the next. One-hundred and forty vintages of the Nicolas family have proven this to be true. A little more about the terroir In France and even most of Europe, ‘terroir’ is liked to ‘location’ in real estate; terroir, terroir, terroir. Terroir is not solely regarding the soil of one vineyard, it is an all-encompassing concepts which includes the climate, the region, the weather and the soil. It is viewed by many who have been in the wine business for generations, as a living element of the wine. It could not be more true. When you choose to work with Mother Nature, you choose to work with all of her, to adapt to her and in some instances or years there is great success and in others there may be great heartache. She will be happy to gift those who choose to work with her and not against her. The wines of Conseillante reflect this in their growing practices and their beautiful wines are proof that their system is working and has for a very long time. Their wines work with the terroir. The soils of this area, as mentioned consist in some areas clay and in others, gravel. Underneath these layers you will find the sub-soil of iron dross contributing to the health and structure of the vine and therefore its product. These unique characteristics, combined with the maritime climate with long periods of lengthy days of sun and minimal rainfall attribute to ideal growing conditions and well-rounded maturity of their fruit. Each vineyard plot, with each of their special soils make for something different with individual characteristics they impart into the wine. The blend of these is a well-rounded, interesting wine with character on many levels. The Conseillante 2004 As I mentioned earlier when I was introducing this wine, it has been cellared and kept in loving care for you, this holiday season. It is time to spoil yourself and indulge just a touch. Being that it is the holiday season, it might not even hurt to share a little. After all, sharing things when among your favorite company or at least with your favorite person, tend to taste and be enjoyed that much better. Create an experience to remember to savor and one which might bring a smile to your face years from now at the thought of it. This is a lovely wine and ready for consumption with surprisingly lighter, fresh and mature fruit aromas of late summer dark berries that stain your fingertips while you harvest them. You remember as a kid perhaps heading off to pick the wild raspberries or blackberries on the thorny bushes by the side of the road. It went something like ‘one for the basket, two for the mouth’. The lovely berry fruit is complimented with a perfume of melted chocolate ganache with a touch of vanilla. Have a sip and you will be enjoying a full-bodied wine that lovingly caresses your palate with a lingering finish and supple tannin, balanced, elegant, classic, with a presence that is delicious, like only the best company. More Wine Reviews: Luc Belaire Rare Rosé Chateau Pontet-Canet 2010 Chateau Leoville Poyferre 2008 Guigal Cotes du Rhone Rouge 2010
