2022 Château La Violette

I was only able to taste the 2022 Château La Violette from a half bottle, and I never feel it's a representative of the real wine at this stage. Nevertheless, you have to call it as you see it on that day. Sporting a vivid ruby hue as well as a pretty nose of mulled currants, leafy herbs, loamy soil, and chocolate, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a soft, forward, charming mouthfeel, light tannins, and outstanding length. It lacks some density yet is nevertheless elegant, perfumed, and a seamless Pomerol. Give bottles a few years to fill out and enjoy over the following 20+.

The 2022 La Violette has a lot of new oak on the nose—as you would expect given the élevage. It's quite opulent, perhaps more so than it showed from the barrel, though it retains decent delineation, with a light herbal aspect underneath the confit-like red fruit tone. The palate is medium-bodied with a sweet entry. As usual, this is quite plush in style, but there is decent weight and complexity on the finish. Patience will be required.

A complex and open-grained Pomerol with fine wood spices, bergamot, white pepper and sweet plums on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied with sleek but enveloping tannins. Juicy and really refined. A super-long finish that lasts for almost a minute. Tasted from a half bottle. Already showing lots of charm, but should get even better in two more years. Drink after 2026.