Chateau Le Conseiller Bordeaux Superieur 2009

Chateau Le Conseiller Bordeaux Superieur 2009 is a 100% Merlot red wine from Bordeaux Superieur, bottled at 14% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Rated 88–90 points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, this vintage delivers a dense, luscious profile that punches well above its appellation, drawing on the same winemaking ambition applied to proprietor Jean-Philippe Janoueix's top Right Bank estates.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14%  |  Origin: Bordeaux Superieur, France  |  Vintage: 2009  |  Producer: Jean-Philippe Janoueix

Production & Heritage

Jean-Philippe Janoueix oversees several properties across Bordeaux's Right Bank, and Chateau Le Conseiller sits across the river from the outer Saint-Emilion appellations on prime sandy clay soils suited to Merlot. Fermentation takes place in a combination of concrete tanks and stainless steel vats, with pump-overs performed three times daily to maximize extraction from the 100% Merlot fruit. The wine then ages in 100% new oak—a split of French and American barrels—with a distinctive twist: half the barrels are traditional Bordeaux-shaped and half are cigar-shaped, the same expensive cooperage Janoueix reserves for his flagship Right Bank cuvées. The use of American oak alongside French is notably uncommon in Bordeaux and contributes an additional layer of sweet spice and toast to the final blend.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: An inky, dark-fruited nose leads with ripe blueberry and black cherry before shifting into graphite, charcoal, and a distinct camphor lift. Beneath those primary notes, mocha and espresso aromas emerge from the generous new oak aging.

Taste: The entry is soft and glycerin-rich, with dense blueberry and sweet black cherry coating the palate. At mid-palate, licorice, dark chocolate, and earthy undertones develop alongside freshly balanced acidity that keeps the wine's full body from feeling heavy. Ripe plum fruit lingers into the peak, framed by medium-plus, well-integrated tannins.

Finish: Medium to long, with lingering notes of espresso, dark spice, and a subtle graphite minerality. The texture remains supple through the close, and the oak influence fades gracefully into the fruit.

How to Drink Le Conseiller 2009

At over a decade of bottle age, this Merlot is at its best served slightly below room temperature—around 16–18°C—in a large-bowled glass that lets the complex aromatics breathe. Decanting for 30 to 45 minutes will help open the wine further. While this is primarily a wine for the table or quiet contemplation, its rich dark-fruit character and supple tannins also make it a strong base for a Bordeaux Sangria built with blackberries and a cinnamon stick, a refined Red Wine Reduction drizzled over seared steak, or a warming winter Vin Chaud spiced with clove and star anise.

Best For

• Gifting a Bordeaux enthusiast looking for outstanding value from the 2009 vintage
• Pairing with a special dinner of braised or grilled red meats
• Exploring Right Bank Merlot without paying Saint-Emilion Grand Cru prices
• Adding a mature Bordeaux to a cellar collection for near-term drinking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Le Conseiller 2009 taste like? It delivers a dense, fruit-forward profile dominated by ripe blueberry, black cherry, and plum, layered with graphite, dark chocolate, licorice, and espresso notes from 100% new oak aging. The mouthfeel is luscious and medium to full-bodied with well-integrated tannins and balanced acidity.

How does Le Conseiller 2009 compare to Chateau Croix Mouton? Both wines are Bordeaux Superieur bottlings that overdeliver for their appellation, though Le Conseiller uses 100% Merlot aged entirely in new French and American oak, giving it a richer, more extracted style. Croix Mouton tends to be a Merlot-dominant blend with a slightly more approachable, fruit-driven character at a comparable price tier.

Is Le Conseiller 2009 good for sipping on its own? Yes—its supple tannins, balanced acidity, and complex aromatics make it well-suited to drinking neat with just a brief decanting period. The 2009 vintage's natural ripeness means the wine is drinking beautifully now without needing further cellaring.

Where is Le Conseiller made? Chateau Le Conseiller is located in the Bordeaux Superieur appellation on the Right Bank of Bordeaux, France, across the Dordogne river from the outer Saint-Emilion communes. The estate is owned and managed by vigneron Jean-Philippe Janoueix, who operates several properties throughout Bordeaux's Right Bank.

What foods pair well with Le Conseiller 2009? Braised beef short ribs work especially well, as the wine's dark fruit and tannin structure mirror the richness of slow-cooked meat. Grilled lamb chops complement the graphite and earthy notes. Aged Comté or Gruyère cheese echoes the wine's toasty oak character. Dark chocolate desserts with a 70% cacao content match the mocha and espresso finish. A mushroom risotto also pairs naturally with the wine's earthy, full-bodied palate.

What sizes does Le Conseiller 2009 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format for this wine.

Is Le Conseiller 2009 worth the price? Le Conseiller positions as a value-driven Bordeaux Superieur that receives the same barrel treatment—100% new oak, including costly cigar-shaped cooperage—as Janoueix's more expensive Right Bank cuvées. For a wine carrying an 88–90 point rating from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and sourced from the exceptional 2009 vintage, it delivers well beyond its appellation tier.

Why Le Conseiller 2009?

What separates this wine from most Bordeaux Superieur bottlings is the uncompromising production approach: 100% new oak aging using a mix of French and American barrels—half traditional, half cigar-shaped—is a regime typically reserved for classified-growth or Grand Cru wines. The 2009 Bordeaux vintage brought exceptional ripeness and concentration, and Le Conseiller capitalized fully, earning 88–90 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. For drinkers who want the depth, complexity, and oak-driven structure of a premium Right Bank Merlot without the premium Right Bank price, this remains one of the more compelling bottles from that celebrated vintage.