1988 Château La Conseillante
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Tasting notes
The 1988 La Conseillante displays a smudged, rustic bouquet laden with dusky, dark berried fruits, dried blood (rusty iron piping) and a touch of mocha. The palate is medium-bodied with a spicy entry, good structure with the Cabernet Franc defining the crisp finish with hints of allspice and sous-bois . Though not quite as smitten as others who tasted this bottle since it lacked a little gumption, it displays good length and is completely paradigmatic of the vintage. Tasted at a private dinner in London.
Critic scores
Wine Spectator
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Very dark, concentrated blackish ruby. Quite sweet, very rich, full and opulent. It dried slightly towards the finish but overall there was no shortage of fruit. Substantial – really meaty with great savour. The wine is almost like inky Marmite (savoury yeast extract). (JR)
The 1988 suffers in comparison to the 1989, but it is a light, charming, supple, medium-bodied wine for drinking over the next 5-7 years. Tasty, yes, but where is the grip and depth? Last tasted, 6/93.
Dark chocolate and coffee on the nose, with hints of meat. Full-bodied, with supersoft and ripe tannins and a chocolate, berry and raspberry aftertaste. Really beautiful and tasty.¿'88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). Drink now. 5,000 cases made. James Suckling, Wine Spectator 2009
About the producer
Château la Conseillante was built in 1750 and named after the proprietor, Libourne business woman Catherine Conseillan. The reputation of the wines quickly grew and her wines became some of the most expensive in the region.