The 2020 La Violette has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and fragrant notes of chocolate-covered cherries, plum preserves and wild blueberries, followed by nuances of rose oil, sandalwood and ground cloves. The medium to full-bodied palate gives layer upon layer of black and blue fruit preserves, framed by silky tannins and lovely freshness, finishing with fantastic length and incredibly perfumed.
Drink Date
2026 - 2048
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

Emerging from the team at Château Le Gay, the 2020 Château La Violette is just a stunningly elegant, medium to full-bodied Pomerol that’s as pure as they come, offering gorgeous notes of red, blue, and black fruits, violets, iron, and chalky minerality. It’s relatively forward and supple on the palate, with moderate acidity, but the balance is spot on, it has silky tannins, and it just sings on the finish. This thrilling Pomerol is going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and cruise for two decades.

Plenty of blackberry, dark-chocolate and treacle-tart character, yet it remains fresh and vivid. It’s full-bodied with vivid fruit and intensity. Creamy tannins and a fruity finish. Fine texture. Framed and formed.

The 2020 La Violette is bold and luscious in the glass. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, licorice and lavender gain resonance and depth with a bit of coaxing. There is quite a bit of richness, in keeping with the style here. Sadly, this sample was not particularly fresh when it arrived, and that only begs the question: Why even bother sending a sample that was old before it left Bordeaux?
Vinous.com

The 2020 La Violette has a sumptuous rather than decadent bouquet of billowing black cherries, crushed blueberry, kirsch and touches of orange pith, well defined and gaining even more intensity with aeration. The palate is full-bodied with very ripe, plush black fruit laced with marmalade, white pepper and light prune and date notes. I do find this a little too heady and alcoholic toward the finish, unlike some recent vintages that have displayed more precision and restraint. This is a modern Pomerol that oozes hedonism, but this year, I find Le Gay more to my taste.
- vinous.com