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La Violette 2017

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

This 1.6 hectare vineyard is owned by the family of the late Catherine Péré-Vergé (of Chateau Le Gay) although 0.3 hectares are not currently in production. Only a few hundred cases of luxurious Pomerol are made here annually. The property is situated in between Le Pin and Trotanoy, and planted with 100% Merlot from 50 year old vines. The fruit is de-stemmed by hand by 50 people with micro-vinification and elevage in 100% new oak.

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Label

Tasting Notes

A very tight, refined red with wonderful, fine tannins that are so creamy and finessed. Feels like wonderful silk. Medium-to full-bodied, fresh and vivid. Complex and reserved. A beautiful young red. Drink in 2023.

95
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, January 2020

The 2017 La Violette has an attractive bouquet with raspberry, cranberry and subtle marmalade aromas. Quite pure and more elegant in style compared to recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity. More red than black fruit towards the finish exerts gentle grip and a pinch of cracked black pepper on the aftertaste. It feels a little more open at this stage than expected but it has the substance to last 15-20 years. Drink 2022-2040.

92
Neal Martin, vinous.com, February 2020

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 La Violette sails out of the glass with expressive scents of baked plums, blueberry preserves and blackberry pie plus suggestions of spice cake, chocolate box and powdered cinnamon. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-coating black fruits with a firm, fine-grained frame and long, fragrant finish. 2022 - 2042

94
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (March 2020), March 2020

A good display of house signature here - tight, firm, bright and intense. This is very much about tight, layered flavours of dark blackberry and cassis coulis. It's clearly well made, with real focus and power - a good vintage for these guys that will take its time.
Drinking Window 2027 - 2040

92
Jane Anson, Decanter.com, April 2018

The yield in 2017 was 35 hl/ha and they hope to make 5500 bottles. A vivid purple colour in the glass, this has a hugely expressive and intense nose of mocha, cherry blossom, blueberry and baked vanilla. The palate is supremely polished and well integrated, with silky and ripe tannins providing and light framework for the explosive and dense core of fruit. This is seamless and round, but also wonderfully refined with bright acidity bringing harmony and precision. The finish is long and expansive, with dark cherries, blue fruits and a little star anise shining through.

94+
Farr Vintners, April 2018

The nose is smoky with woodland violets charm the palate sweet with ripe black plums fleshy richness. It is lighter towards the back with the ripe fruit rich ripe damsons giving depth on the finish. 2026-38

90/93
Derek Smedley MW, DerekSmedleyMW.co.uk, April 2018
Read more tasting notes...

The 2017 La Violette has a very precise bouquet with blackberry and raspberry scents, a touch of iris developing in the glass. This year I certainly find more complexity here than its sibling Le Gay. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a little savory compared to other recent vintages with a soft, velvety finish that feels pure and caressing. This is a delicious La Violette that is less ostentatious than recent vintages and frankly, all the better for it. Drink 2023-2045.

92/94
Neal Martin, vinous.com, May 2018

This shows substantial fruit and tannin concentration with plenty of dark-berry and dark-chocolate character. Full body, a rounded texture and a delicious finish. A wine that will please in its youth.

94/95
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2018

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 La Violette is a little reticent to begin, unfurling to give crushed blackberries and blackcurrants notes with touches of forest floor, truffles, cast iron pan and star anise. The palate is exquisitely balanced and intense, with firm, ripe tannins and seamless freshness framing the rock-solid, muscular fruit, finishing very long.

94/96+
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (236), April 2018
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.