Chateau La Violette 2020

Shows an overt roasted mocha note backed by friendly plum sauce and blackberry preserves. The velvety finish lets the mocha edge linger. A bit obvious, but this will certainly have fans. Drink now through 2031.

Heady and perfumed on the nose. A little constricted on the palate, slightly tense tannins coat the mouth with a perfumed, almost liqueur aspect to the dark black fruit. It stops short of being too much and instead gives nuance and aromatics. It's bold, but glamorous too, has a sense of style to the sculpting and overall presentation. Tons of Pomerol polish, oak effects are still very evident so this needs a good 5-10 years before opening but it will be devilishly good when the time comes.

A juicy and very rich wine with lots of fruit and dried spices, such as nutmeg. It’s full and layered with round tannins and a firm finish. Tense and poised. Drink after 2026.

The 2020 La Violette is sensual, delicate and nuanced. This has come together well. Lifted floral top notes and silky tannins give La Violette a good deal of finesse. The 2020 is impeccably balanced. There's plenty of unctuous, jammy fruit but less of the overt weight of some previous years.

Violets and lilacs were on full display in the opening notes of the aromatic profile before moving on to all of its spice, espresso, dark red pit fruits, wet earth and chocolate nuances. The best part of the experience however, is on the supple-textured palate with its waves of black and dark red fruits, creamy, lush tannins and long, rich, chocolate-tinted finish. With its tiny production, if you are a fan of La Violette, you will need to jump on it quickly, as very little wine was made. Drink from 2027-2050.

Very fragrant, rose and iris, also viola. Cherry pit, extremely pure. Much texture in the mouth, mellow, fine tannin in high quantity, quite homogeneous and discreetly flowing, round and plump, extremely relaxed in its character, with good aromatic length and a chocolate note on the finish.

A solid step up over the Le Gay, the 2020 Château La Violette reveals a vivid purple hue to go with a jaw-droppingly good bouquet of pure black cherry and cassis-like fruits supported by complex notions of iron, violets, loamy earth, and smoked tobacco. Full-bodied on the palate, it's not massive yet is flawlessly balanced, has a layered, elegant, seamless mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and a great, great finish. An incredible example of richness paired with elegance, this gorgeous Pomerol deserves just 3-5 years of bottle age and will evolve for upwards of 30 years if well stored. It's an incredible wine.

Kunz Fassprobe 2021: Dense, complex, deep, elegant bouquet with strawberry jam, Comté, mint, flint, liquorice. Finely woven, elegant, creamy palate with intense, sweet, refined fruit, plenty of fine tannins, a velvety, dense structure, rich, concentrated, powerful aromatics, and a very long, dense, full finish with many returning flavours. Can still improve.

Dense, complex, deep, elegant bouquet: strawberry jam, Comté, mint, flint, liquorice. Tightly knit, elegant, creamy palate with powerful, sweet, refined fruit, plenty of fine tannins, a velvety, dense structure, a multifaceted, concentrated, intense aromatic profile, and a very long, dense, full finish with lots of lingering flavors. Can improve further. 19/20 2027 - 2050

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 La Violette is quite closed to start, needing patience to coax out fragrant notes of wild blueberries, black raspberries, and underbrush, giving way to suggestions of dried roses and cardamom. The full-bodied palate is jam packed with juicy, expressive black and blue fruits, supported by ripe, velvety tannins and compelling tension, finishing very long and perfumed.

A fresh, charming wine on the nose, opening with wonderfully pure, poised aromas of black fruit, blackcurrant cream and chestnut, violet candy and freshly brewed coffee. The palate is smooth and melting, velvety and harmonious, with notes of red-berry tartlet and a lovely suppleness!

A great deal of finesse in this bouquet, which gradually reveals nuances of cocoa beans and plums. Smooth, refined character on the palate. The wine is silky, with supple, fine-grained tannins. They are pushed to their limits without their austerity being bothersome, yet they highlight the need for time in the cellar.

The nose is elegant, with a hint of concentration. Its intensity is perfectly controlled, with great precision in both freshness and depth. Its power has a voluptuous side. Notes of camphor and crushed blackberries emerge, followed more subtly by fleshy small dark fruits, a touch of blueberries and small blue fruits, and a hint of crushed raspberry, lily, cubeb pepper, and a delicate note of clove. The palate is elegant, delicate, and subtly restrained. There is well-judged richness, a touch of straightness, and an airy feel to the concentration and depth. Notes of vibrant blackcurrant and juicy, pulpy boysenberry come through, then more lightly crushed small raspberries, with touches of lilac, violet, fresh tobacco, nutmeg, and a subtle hint of liquorice, small wild berries, and pepper. Fine minerality and freshness.

Dark, intense, youthful colour. A highly aromatic, refined nose, fresher than 2012 and 2016. More Bordeaux in style. Complex notes with a hint of truffle. Precise on the attack, delicately fleshy on the mid-palate, with real class in the texture; the wine melts across the palate—juicy, spicy and long. Delicious. A lovely return of blond wood flavours on the finish. A suave, harmonious whole.

A 100% Merlot that focuses on depth and fullness. The wine’s substance promises to be opulent and generous. The palate confirms it, wrapped in silky tannins, marked by chocolatey dark-fruit aromas and a wonderfully caressing texture, lifted by a racy acidity on the finish and delicate bitters.