Château La Violette 2012
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 2012 Reviews / Tasting Notes
Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate
Point Score: 97
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.
Antonio Galloni - Vinous
Point Score: 96
A truly magnificent wine, the 2012 La Violette boasts off the charts intensity and resonance, with a finish that seems to last forever. So many 2012s look like they will drink well young. This is not one of them. Readers will have to be patient with what is shaping up to be one of the real highlights of the vintage. Blueberry jam, spice, lavender, mint and violet blossom into the beautifully textured finish. This is a magnificent showing.
Ian D'Agata - Vinous
Point Score: 95
Good full ruby. Cool aromas of fresh blackcurrant, cherry liqueur and crushed stone. Sweet on entry, then focused and penetrating in the middle, with savory, mineral-driven soil tones dominating primary black fruit flavors of noteworthy purity. Finishes structured and long, but with a trace of dilution.