La Conseillante 1978

The fine, Indian Summer conditions of 1978 were less helpful on the Right Bank than they were on the Left Bank, and so many of the ‘78s I have tasted from Pomerol and St. Émilion are a touch herbal from more indifferent ripening. This is the case with the ’78 La Conseillante, which is still a complex and nicely soil-driven wine. The bouquet is a blend of cassis, a bit of tariness, fresh herb tones, gravel, charred earth and cigar smoke. On the palate the wine is deep, fullish and still nicely suave on the attack, with a good core, fine focus and balance, melted tannins and a good, long, modestly ripe finish.

A surprise although it really shouldn’t have because you have a winery that almost always outperforms and a year that is better than it usually gets credit for and between those two I should have known I’d be a fan. Opened and double decanted at home for sediment but rebottled almost immediately. This took some time to really come around. It was prob an hour or two in the glass before the fruit started to jump out. Bright red and kindof unctuous. I found myself looking up other bottles on my way. Really tasty.

Drink: now