Château La Violette 2021

The 2021 La Violette has a very precocious bouquet, as it did at primeur, with black plum, licorice and raspberry coulis, a touch of menthol coming through with time. The palate is quite glossy and smooth, though it feels a little sweeter on the finish than it did previously, at the expense of some delineation and tension—hence my slightly lower score. But for the vintage, it is still a commendable, comparatively opulent Pomerol.

Flowers, espresso, roasted plums, incense, chocolate-coated black cherries, and smoke create an attention-seeking perfume. On the palate, the wine is packed with rich, spicy black raspberries, plums, and black cherries, with nuances of dark chocolate, licorice, espresso, and spice, with a dash of salt that arrives at the very end of the finish. Yields were low at 20 hectoliters per hectare, about half of normal production, so this is going to be very hard, if not impossible, to find after release. This is a very strong wine for the vintage. Drink from 2025–2045.

The nose is fresh, racy, elegant, with some power and a delicate spicy edge. It reveals notes of vibrant wild berries, Cubeb pepper and, more subtly, spices, with small touches of pulpy blackcurrant, as well as fine hints of camphor, black tea, violet and licorice. The palate is fruity, balanced, racy and precise, offering freshness, minerality, good definition, a certain juiciness, smoothness, energy, a touch of roundness/volume, gourmandise, and a tangy backbone. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy/pulpy blackberry, crunchy/juicy small black fruits and, more slightly, violet, combined with fine touches of peony, mocha, grilled cardamom, as well as subtle hints of violet, almond and sweet spices. A slight chew and some toastiness on the finish/persistence. Well-judged bitters, a certain finesse within its modest richness, and harmony. A subtle spherical feel in the definition of its fruit.

Dark color with purple highlights. Fruity, slightly restrained nose, held back by the oak (full vinification in integral barrels). Precise on the attack, flavorful mid-palate, the wine delights with its fine flesh. It melts on the palate, subtle and perfumed, with ripe fruit flavors. It’s very good. I’ve never found it this close to Le Pin. 100% Merlot. Alcohol: 14% (natural). pH: 3.7. Vinified with 15% saignée. Yield: 20 hl/ha. Production: around 4,000 bottles.