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La Violette 2012

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Pomerol
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château La Violette

Label

Tasting Notes

A candidate for the wine of the vintage, the 2012 La Violette has a very floral, blueberry and raspberry nose, inky purple color, exceptional texture, full-bodied richness and stunning purity, symmetry and palate presence. This is, possibly, the wine of the year. Unfortunately, there is so little of it available and it is virtually impossible to find. The vineyard is only 4.4 acres, the yields tiny, and usually the final blend includes at least 80% Merlot. Drink it over the next 20 years. Drink: 2015 - 2035.

97
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (218), April 2015

Pure Merlot, picked over three days from 6th October and micro-vinified in Saury barrels for seven days, the La Violette (the late Catherine Pere-Verge's "baby") has a typically opulent bouquet of candied orange peel, kirsch and fresh figs that are well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with supple rounded tannins. There is very good volume here, lovely smooth velvety tannins with succulent red cherries, wild strawberry, white pepper and minerals towards the long sumptuous finish. One of the hedonists...but still a very well made La Violette. Tasted April 2013.

91/93
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, May 2013

Wow. Fantastic aromas of dried flowers, blueberries, chocolate and walnuts. Full-bodied and firm with chewy tannins and a long, intense finish. Needs three to four years to soften. Better in 2019.

93
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2015

Medium-deep purple colour. Another ripe blueberry nose, layered with black cherry, fresh cherry blossom and sweet vanilla. The palate is very juicy, with highly polished tannins giving a silky texture to the cherry fruit core. There is a real intensity to the fruit that drives a pure, floral note through to the long finish. The density to the wine is balanced by acidity that leaves the palate with clean layers of ripe blue and black fruits, sweet spice from new oak, and a very aromatic, floral character.

96
Farr Vintners, Farr Tasting, June 2015

The nose has a powerful mix of black plum and black cherry with a mass of ripe fruit fleshing out the palate. Under the fruit dark chocolate adds to the richness yet there is a balancing freshness towards the back. 2018-28

93/95
Derek Smedley MW, May 2013

Tasting on the day after Catherine Péré-Vergé's death was a moving experience. This, her last vintage, is a fitting tribute to what she achieved in Pomerol, made from a 1.8ha parcel of 50-80 year old vines. Showing violets and liquorice on the nose, with no shortage of oak, this is a bold, sumptuous, structured wine that was picked at just the right moment. A fleshy, modern Pomerol. Drink: 2020-35

95
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2013
Read more tasting notes...

Classic dark raspberry and kirsch liqueur notes intertwined with a touch of spring flowers are a hallmark of this fabulous jewel of a terroir. This dark ruby-hued, medium-bodied, soft, elegant, pure, rich 2012 from proprietress Catherine Pere-Verge is undeniably a star of the vintage. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.

At press time, I learned that Madame Pere-Verge had passed away after a long battle with cancer. She was a very strong and dynamic woman I shall miss.

91/93
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (206), April 2013

A solid core of fruit with blackberry, dark chocolate and spices. Full body, with fine tannins and a long finish. Pretty length to this.

91/92
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2013

This 1.6 hectare vineyard is owned by the family of Catherine Péré-Vergé (of Chateau Le Gay) who sadly died just a few days before our visit. Only 200 cases of luxurious Pomerol are made here annually. The property is situated in between Le Pin and Trotanoy, and planted with 100% Merlot. The fruit is de-stemmed by hand by 50 people. There is amazing density and concentration here yet the wine is gentle and precise with great purity of fruit. Sensual, sexy, smooth and decadent. The essence of great Pomerol. A real wow factor here.

97
Farr Vintners, March 2013
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.