Château Violette 2011

Honestly, I have rarely tasted this wine, but seen some exuberant comments. Sitting and reading Neal Martin’s absolutely legendary and excellent Pomerol book, one of the best ever written on one appelation, while tasting the 2011 vintage I get another understanding. The few times I have tasted this wine has mostly been barrel samples, and those are difficult to get without history. This 2011 from a demi bottle, a sample very kindly sent from the winemaker, that the more I read, the more surprised I am that a sample was sent! According to Neal Martin’s book, just about 1,6 hectares makes La Violette, from pure Merlot vineyards in between Le Pin and Trotanoy. Barely 5000 bottles in a normal year. I mean, that in itself is nothing. And at ten years old, they send me a half bottle. So now, the tasting note.
Ruby. A caressing breeze of blueberries and blackberries left on a warm summers table, or the ones you steal from the neighbour on the way home from school when no-one could see you, because they were at work, back then… It is called Violette, there is a reason for it even if that is a Cabernet Franc aroma, it is definitely here. The book states this plot is pure Merlot pre dating the 1956 frost, and I trust Neals work. But this is really violets notes Merlot! From the barrel samples I have had it is opulent, big, but this 2011 is so gentle and nuanced and elegant. It is like seeing a very talented, but unsure ballet dancer stumble a bit, then dancing faultlessly. Yes, an unusual review, but some wines spins a story on their own. This one did. I love the fruit, body and minerality of this! 93

Tasted in March 2015. Splendid concentration and depth, ripe fruit, great complexity and structure, very stylish and very much character of the soil.