CHÂTEAU LA VIOLETTE
2012 Pomerol
Pure Merlot, picked over three days from 6th October and micro-vinified in Saury barrels for seven days, the La Violette (the late Catherine Pere-Verge’s “baby”) has a typically opulent bouquet of candied orange peel, kirsch and fresh figs that are well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with supple rounded tannins. There is very good volume here, lovely smooth velvety tannins with succulent red cherries, wild strawberry, white pepper and minerals towards the long sumptuous finish. One of the hedonists...but still a very well made La Violette. Rating: 91-93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2013)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
Tasting on the day after Catherine Péré-Vergé’s death was a moving experience. This, her last vintage, is a fitting tribute to what she achieved in Pomerol, made from a 1.8ha parcel of 50-80 year old vines. Showing violets and liquorice on the nose, with no shortage of oak, this is a bold, sumptuous, structured wine that was picked at just the right moment. A fleshy, modern Pomerol. Drink: 2020-35 Rating: 95 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (Apr 2013)
Bright and juicy, featuring a core of linzer torte and red currant fruit, with notes of bergamot and anise adding lift on the finish. Offers a lightly sinewy feel surrounded by solid flesh. Rating: 88-91 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2013)
Château La Violette
The wines of Château la Violette should be good but, in truth, have only achieved their potential since the vineyard was bought by Catherine Pere-Verge in 2006. The 1.6 ha vineyard sits atop the Pomerol plateau, next to Château Trotanoy and very near Le Pin. Another plot of vines near to Feytit Clinet that came with the purchase is now used for Château Montveil in order to preserve the absolute quality of Château la Violette. With no chai at la Violette, the wines are made at Château le Gay. It is a tiny vineyard – 1.8ha – and the yields are very small. The vines, many of which are over 60 years old, are 100% Merlot and are planted on clay and gravel soil.
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those of the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do call us, but see the 'practical notes' below.
Ordering
Prices are per case as listed 'in bond London'.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment from you to buy the wines you order on release, subject to the price being below the upper price of the estimated band on our website. You may also set your own upper price limit, lower or higher than ours. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability. Providing this firm commitment to us effectively gives you priority.
Wines listed on the website (after any pre-orders and allocations have been fulfilled) can be ordered in the usual way via the website order form or by email or telephone 020 7221 1982, always subject to stock remaining.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are contractually binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of the confirmation date, apart from pre-orders which are binding if the release price is below the top estimate or other price you have set.
Invoices are raised at the In Bond price, excluding any duty and VAT which will become payable at the prevailing rates on arrival of the wine if required duty paid.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or credit transfer. We reserve the right to charge 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £1000, orders below this total will be charged £16.50+ VAT when the wine invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery for 2016 Bordeaux primeurs will probably be completed by October 2019, but we make no guarantee as to specific delivery times, and some of the Sauternes may be later.
Practical notes - how it works
We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes) for immediate payment. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option, but do please note that confirmed orders are still binding as above even if the final invoice has not been issued.
When the wine is shipped, unless previously specified we will assume that delivery is to be to bonded storage with Elephant Storage, but in any case, we will contact you requesting any alternative instructions. If you have another bonded delivery address you would like the wine to go to, please tell us at the time of ordering. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue invoices at the rates prevailing at the time for the excise duty (currently £25.98 per case) and the VAT (currently at 20%) on the total of the wine cost and the duty.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the bottle size you want. Even if a wine is only listed in one size, you can order any bottle or case size you want if the property supplies it, but you must order the case/bottle size you require and check that the correct size has been invoiced.
Additional charges are as follows:-
- +£15 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£15 per case of 6 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£35 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£45 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.