Purity, integrity, and joy: Inside La Conseillante with Marielle Cazaux

Because of the December traffic I was late for my interview, but fortunately the hardworking Wine Story Manager Carla Santos was still able to manage my private interview during a short break.

- BY THE GLASS SHERWIN A. LAO

THE Chateau La Conseillante Wine Dinner Lineup (L-R): vintages 2010, 2009, 2005 and 2000.

By the time I got to speak with Ms. Cazaux, the La Conseillante wines from the different vintages I sampled had already made a great impression on me. What followed was a candid and inspiring conversation about terroir, vintages, pricing philosophy, and the human side of winemaking.

In our short téte-d-téte, Ms. Cazaux began by describing the unique soils of La Conseillante. Pebbly plots and sandy parcels provide the foundation for wines that balance richness with elegance.

‘The estate’s flagship wine is typically a blend of 80% merlot and 20% cabernet franc, with merlot bringing depth and silkiness, while cabernet franc adds freshness and spice. Annual production averages in the 40,000-bottle range, with a small library stock reserved for the family and collectors.

La Conseillante also produces a second wine, Duo de Conseillante, a second label that was first created in 2007. Made in lighter sandy soils, it is 90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc, aged in a mix of new and used oak. Ms. Cazaux described Duo as “easy-drinking, refined, and spicy” — a wine for everyday enjoyment, and even suggested that the wine can go with some fish dishes.

Since taking the helm in 2015, Ms. Cazaux has overseen a string of highly acclaimed vintages, including several that earned the chateau the coveted 100-point scores from critics, I mentioned this incredible fact at our table during the wine dinner, and Ms. Cazaux humbly deflected the compliment to her team. At the same time, during the interview, she insisted that her proudest achievement was not the accolades, but the team she has built.

“My greatest achievement is to bring together the team I have today. They are my dream team. Like in basketball, everyone shares the same goal, the same energy, and even my craziest ideas. ‘That's what makes the difference.”