Château La Violette 2013
Review of the Estate
La Violette is the true jewel in the Pere-Verge Pomerol crown! Producing one of the appellation's most sought-after wines. With production being a tiny average of just 250 cases a year, this is unfortunately an ultra-rare wine. Chateau La Violette produces one of the most exciting wines made in the Pomerol today.
The small 1.8 hectare vineyard of La Violette is now fully planted to 100% Merlot. At one point in time, there were also Cabernet Franc vines planted, but those vines have been removed and replaced with Merlot.
The vineyard has some very old Merlot vines that are close to 75 years of age. The tiny production makes this one of the harder wines to find in Pomerol! The terroir at La Violette is a complex mix of clay and limestone with gravel and iron deposits that run deep into the soil.
The vineyard consists of 4 plots in two main parcels. Those 4 main plots are further divided into 20 smaller parcels. The best terroir is placed between Le Pin and Trotanoy. Those vines are the heart and soul of La Violette.
The second parcel, which is close to Feytit Clinet is not on the plateau and thus, those vines are placed in Chateau Montviel, one of their other estates. The vines are planted to a density of 5,500 vines per hectare for the old vines. The young vines are planted at a much higher density of 7,700 vines per hectare.
At Chateau La Violette, vineyard management requires three days a week be spent manicuring each individual bunch, removing any green or pink berries from around the "wings" to ensure a perfectly uniform ripening of the grapes.
Aside from serious sorting of the grapes, all the berries are destemmed by hand. Harvest's are conducted in several pickings. The yields are low. For example, in 2009, it was a microscopic 20 hectoliters per hectare! 2012 Chateau La Violette was made from even lower yields of 18 hectoliters per hectare!
To produce the wine of Chateau La Violette, after harvest and intense sorting, the berries are hand destemmed by up to 60 workers. Next, the whole berry fruit undergoes cold maceration for close to 20 days before fermentation in 100% new, French oak barrels from Saury using the micro vinification process. Malolactic fermentation is performed in the barrel.
On average, the production of La Violette is close to a scarce 250 cases per year, making Chateau La Violette one of the harder to find, and more expensive Pomerol wines.
Vineyard
Surface area: 4.5 acres
Grape Varieties: 100% Merlot
Average age of vines: 60 years
Density of plantation: Old Vines 5,500 young vines 7,700 vines per hectare
Average yields: 20 hectolitres per hectare
Average cases produced: 250 per year
Plateau of maturity: 10-35 years
Château La Violette 2013 Reviews / Tasting Notes
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate
Point Score: 91
The 2013 La Violette has a perfumed bouquet with candied orange peel infusing the red berry fruit, a touch of confectionary shop here, nicely defined and gaining intensity in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with tannin, sappy red berry fruit, a hint of spice, nice cohesion as its leads into what for La Violette is a relatively lean finish, but it retains lovely balance and joie de vivre. Drink this now and over the next decade.
Ian D'Agata - Vinous
Point Score: 87-90
(100% merlot): Vivid ruby. Very pure, fresh blueberry and violet aromas are complicated by ink and flint. Enters bright and floral, showing lively, perfumed dark berry flavors, then turns a little astringent on the finish with a hint of tannic toughness emerging. Despite the wine's atypically austere mouthfeel, this graceful wine displays La Violette's typical delicacy and refinement. It just lacks the depth of fruit and velvety tannins of the best vintages. Production will be only 4,000 bottles--on the heels of the paltry 3,500 made in 2012.
James Suckling
Point Score: 93
Aromas of raspberry and blueberry. Hints of chocolate too. Full body, firm tannins and a velvety texture. Very pretty and balanced. Drink or hold. Old vine merlot here.