2018 Château La Violette, Pomerol, Bordeaux

Chateau Violette

La Violette is the true jewel in the Péré-Vergé Pomerol crown! The Bordeux wine made its debut for Catherine Péré-Vergé 2006. The small vineyard is located on the top of the Pomerol plateau. The old vine merlot planted in the vineyard is close to 50 years old. In fact, many of the vines are even older. The vineyard is not far from Chateau Le Pin and Chateau Trotanoy.

La Violette is one of the most exciting wines made in Pomerol today. Popular several decades ago, the property was behind other Pomerol wines s in quality, prior to 2006. By the time 2008 finished Malolactic fermentation, it was obvious this was an off the charts wine! It’s filled with countless layers of dense, rich, opulent dark berry, floral and chocolate tones. The palate enjoys a bath of pure velvet and satin.  One of the key characteristics of this Bordeaux wine is the haunting smell of violets. Good luck finding any. On average they only produce about 400 cases. In 2008, they made closer to 250!

Jean-Christophe Meyrou manages the property as well as Chateau Le Gay. He is also in charge of Chateau Montviel and the Pere-Verge estate in Argentina.

Pomerol

Pomerol is the smallest of Bordeaux's major appellations, with about 150 producers and approximately 740 hectares of vineyards. It is home to many bijou domaines, many of which produce little more than 1,000 cases per annum.

Both the topography and architecture of the region is unremarkable, but the style of the wines is most individual. The finest vineyards are planted on a seam of rich clay which extends across the gently-elevated plateau of Pomerol, which runs from the north-eastern boundary of St Emilion. On the sides of the plateau, the soil becomes sandier and the wines lighter.

There is one satellite region to the immediate north, Lalande-de-Pomerol whose wines are stylistically very similar, if sometimes lacking the finesse of its neighbour. There has never been a classification of Pomerol wines.

Recommended Châteaux : Ch. Pétrus, Vieux Ch. Certan, Le Pin, Ch. L’Eglise-Clinet, Ch. La Conseillante, Ch. L’Evangile, Ch. Lafleur, Trotanoy, Ch. Nenin, Ch. Beauregard, Ch. Feytit-Clinet, Le Gay.

Merlot/Cabernet Franc

Merlot and Cabernet Franc are grape varieties commonly used in Bordeaux-style blends, particularly in the Bordeaux region of France. When these two grapes are blended, they can create a wine that combines the best characteristics of each variety.

Merlot is known for its smoothness, soft tannins, and ripe fruit flavours. It often contributes black cherry, plum, and chocolate flavours to the blend. The grapes are relatively easy to grow and ripen earlier than other Bordeaux varieties, making them versatile for blending.

Cabernet Franc, on the other hand, adds structure, depth, and complexity to the blend. It typically brings aromas of red fruits such as raspberry and strawberry, along with herbal notes like bell pepper and tobacco. These grapes have thinner skins and can be more challenging to cultivate, requiring specific growing conditions to reach their full potential.

When Merlot and Cabernet Franc are combined, the result is a well-balanced wine with various flavours and aromas. The blend often exhibits a Bordeaux wine's medium to full body, along with a smooth texture and moderate tannins. The specific flavour profile can vary depending on the proportions of each grape in the blend and the terroir and winemaking techniques employed.