The 2019 La Conseillante has been uncorked and other ramblings....

[JimHow]

Dare I be so beautiful!

Hey, why not, I say. We only live once. Live a little, for crying out loud.

Let's get ready to rock and roll!

[JimHow]

So I usually don't allow myself to get to Wordle until I get past Spelling Bee.
I've got 15 words in Spelling Bee but I just can't seem to move on, WTF.

[JimHow]

So this is my third 2019, after the du Tertre and Tour Saint Christophe.
You know how a piano can sometimes be "bright," with a higher concentration of harmonics.
I'm getting that with my 2019s so far....
Some don't like their pianos to be bright, others, like Elton John, wouldn't have it any other way.
My Yamaha baby grand conservatory series piano is in the Elton John range, it just comes to mind for some reason while I taste these 2019s.
Sound/Hearing is the ONE sense that Wine and Piano do not share in common, but it is what is coming to mind as I foray into this vintage.

[JimHow]

Finally got past Spelling Bee with "plait." Jesus...
Okay Wordle, I guess I'll use "PLAIT," whatever the fuck that means, as my first five letter word.

[JimHow]

plait

noun
a single length of hair or other flexible material made up of three or more interlaced strands; a braid.

verb

form (hair or other material) into a plait or plaits.
"her hair had been plaited and coiled at the back of her head"

[jckba]

So how’s the Conseillante?

[JimHow]

Per Wordle Bot:

"PLAIT is a strong opening guess. Unfortunately, today it was unlucky -- 169 of the words in my dictionary could still be the solution."

Oh yeah, the 2019 La Conseillante....

Let me put the tenderloin on the grill....

[JimHow]

I'm assessing the situation carefully, jckba.

[Nicklasss]

Third Thursday of November is Vins Nouveaux night. There you go Jimhow, with that young Conseillante.

[JimHow]

My 2019 La Conseillante observations:
Gotta tell you folks, I'm just not salivating over the 2019 vintage so far, albeit after only three wines tasted. Long way to go, give me Leoville Barton and Calon Segur, and then I will give you a final answer.
I recognize these wines are young.
These 2019s are certainly not "friendly."
To me they seem acerbic, "bright."
Alcohol levels in the 13-14 range but punching upwards of 15%.
I have ADORED La Conseillante from literally every vintage, young and old, most recently the BWE award winning 2014.
This 2019 is like a melodramatic significant other. I see ZERO charm here.
I have no clue what causes others, like the Jeff Levys out there, to rate this 99 points, etc.
Maybe I'm missing something, it wouldn't be the first time.
I'll score this 92 points because I do think it will soften after its initial very acidic performance.
My bigger concern is that this is a bigger picture in 2019. Is this vintage coming out of the pandemic just simply overrated?
We shall see, I guess, as more 2019s (finally) hit the shelves.
As for this disappointing 2019 La Conseillante, I'll give it a generous 92 points for now, in hopes that it evolves away from its current abnormally acidic state.
These 2019s so far seem very acidic.
Rating: 92(?) points.

[Nicklasss]

Very young wine? Still under the "bottle shock"? Modernly acerbic and "bright"?

I hope you're wrong, as i bought more 2019 than the 2018 that i don't like up to now.

Where are those great red Bordeaux from the past? Were the 2014, 2015 Margaux, and 2016, the last stand for Bordeaux lovers?

[JimHow]

Still very early in the assessment, Nicola.
So far, two thumbs up to the excellent Tour Saint Christophe.
Two thumbs down to du Tertre and La Conseillante, too acidic.
So far the young 2019 Bordeaux taste like young, acidic tight Barolos. Yuck.

[JimHow]

When I’ve tasted the young 2014s, or even the young 2015s and 2016s, I’ve gotten this fill of saliva in the back of my taste buds from the richness and friendliness of fruit. I’m just not getting any of that here from these initial 2019s, which are unfriendly, tart and acidic, even the Tour St Christophe, which I liked. But give me my triumvirate of Calon Segur, Leoville Barton, and Giscours… Give me those three mainstays, and I will assess for you the character of the 2019 Bordeaux vintage. As of now, too early to call.

[JoelD]

I wonder, do you think that acidity will be good for aging though? I'm personally terrible at tasting young Bordeaux. So I appreciate you taking many of these for the team.

[JimHow]

Agreed, Joel. I think that’s likely the case.
Obviously these puppies are just way too young to assess in any meaningful way, but my first gut reaction is that they are much less “friendly” than the 14, 15, 16s that I tried out young. For what that’s worth, which may not be much.

[jal]

Hmmmm, I trust your palate, tartness now does not bode well for aging.
Then again, you are not really into aging wines, so why not just buy some of the remaining 2016 and 2017 instead of 2019s?

[JimHow]

My collection of La Conseillante consists of three 2014s, one 2016, and five 2019s.
At current prices that is likely the extent of it. And I will definitely let all of them sit at least a couple blanquitoes.

[Nicklasss]

In 2015, it was a great trip to Bordeaux, unbelievable. But what i remember the most, and it is almost the only new thing i learn in that trip, and some of the top producers told us that, is excellent great Bordeaux are good from A to Z, from birth to death. They were saying how something that isn't good or unbalanced to start, can't become great with time?

For me, from these learnings, it is clear to me that 2016 red Bordeaux are (and will be) always better than the 2018.

And if you think this is not true, so i guess that the USA will be lucky to have President Trump back, as he was bad the first time like a 2019 red Bordeaux, but will be great the second time....

[RPCV]

Sounds like '96 left bank...

[JimHow]

Not a bad analogy, RC, I was trying to think of a comparable vintage.
I was thinking 1994 but 1996 may be a possibility.
I'm looking forward to trying more 2019s ITNOS, if/when they ever arrive.

[Comte Flaneur]

Sorry to read you were underwhelmed with the 2019 Jim.

I had a pour of the 2018 La Conseillante last night - poured by none other than Marielle Cazaux - and it was the best wine in the whole art gallery - including Figeac, Pichons, Lynch and including some 2010s - Baron, Cos and Pontet Canet

[PghMike]

I'll do some testing in the next couple weeks as well. Went pretty deep on 19 futures including a six pack of La Conseillante.

I have a few Giscours, Brane, SHL and Rauzan to try.

[Ognik]

Back luck Jim.
Just wrong timing, i suspect.
You know for sure from court.
You've been too late and too early, just in between.
LacCon 19 had been excellent in june 2020 ep and in autum 2021 and will be in 10 up to 40 years from now on.
Feel sorry for wasted bottle an your misleading impression on it.
96P plus easy, but not for now....maybe.

[JimHow]

You may be right, Ognik, I'll definitely hold the other five for 10 to 20 years.
I'm starting to see a common theme in the three 2019s I've had so far, however, that is a little concerning.

[Jeff Leve]

My 2019 La Conseillante observations:

I have no clue what causes others, like the Jeff Leves out there, to rate this 99 points, etc.
Maybe I'm missing something, it wouldn't be the first time.

Hey Jim

2019 La Conseillante is as you noted, IMO, stunning in every sense of the word. It is hauntingly aromatic, silky, pure, vibrant, rich, long, and sensuous, with the ability to age for decades. It is everything a great Pomerol should be. Regardless of your score, I am impressed you are looking at Right Bank wines more often these days...

https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/bo ... seillante/

[JimHow]

Ha thanks Jeff I'm sure it will be great.

[Claudius2]

Jim
Wondering your bottle was out of condition or suffering a little bottle shock?

The 33 2019s I’ve tried did not include the very top wines but the style of the vintage was consistently good. 2016 has more structure and tension though 2019 is in its own way a very good year.

The only thing that concerned me was the high alcohol levels of some St Emilions and a few did taste rather hot and cloying.

I have only had a handful of 2018s on the other hand and am in no hurry to buy them. Just not for me. If I had my time over again I think I should have bought more 2014s as this vintage is under-rated and a more classical Bordeaux style. They are also way cheaper than the following vintages.

Cheers
Mark

[DavidG]

I went fairly heavy (for me) on 2019 futures. At my age and given the COVID-suppressed prices, I was thinking more for investment than drinking. At least that’s what I told Peggy. With all the hand-wringing here and in the high alcohol thread, I’m wondering if I’m starting to believe it myself.

But it’s early days and I’m an optimist. Especially about wines I own.

[stefan]

>>
I was thinking more for investment than drinking. At least that’s what I told Peggy.
>>

"Dearest, today the S&P went down 5% and over 20% for the year." "Yikes! How much have we lost?" "Not to worry. I invested in Lafite, which continues to go up. It fact, so much so that tonight we can drink a bottle of it and still be way ahead."

[Blanquito]

>>
I was thinking more for investment than drinking. At least that’s what I told Peggy.
>>

"Dearest, today the S&P went down 5% and over 20% for the year." "Yikes! How much have we lost?" "Not to worry. I invested in Lafite, which continues to go up. It fact, so much so that tonight we can drink a bottle of it and still be way ahead."

I’m in! Do you accept payment in crypto?