Bodega Monteviejo Lindaflor La Violeta 2013 (750ML)

96 WI / 96 JA / 95 DE / 94 JS

The 2013 La Violeta, made by the owner of La Violette in Pomerol, is 100% Malbec. Deep garnet-black colored, it needs a little coaxing before flamboyant notes of stewed black plums, blackberry pie, and blueberry compote come racing from the glass, followed by hints of violets, Chinese five spice, vanilla pod, and licorice. Full-bodied, rich, and decadent in the mouth, it has firm yet plush tannins and just enough acidity to support the dense, opulent fruit, finishing with great length. It is showing a little evolution with the faintest cigar box note starting to emerge, but should easily cellar 25-years+. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent

Inky black in colour, in the way that very few grapes can achieve, signalling rich and ripe Malbec. Pure liquorice bud, concentrated but succulent black cherry and damson fruits and sleek, precise and mouthwatering black chocolate shavings, salted caramel and crushed rocks. This is an explosion of flavour and this is utterly delicious. 100% hand destemmed, old vines from a high altitude site at 1,200m in the Uco Valley. Winemaker Marcelo Pelleriti makes the wines across both La Violeta and their Pomerol estates, notably the iconic La Violette in Pomerol, along with owner Henri Parent. Heavy bottle. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

New to the Place de Bordeaux this year - the Argentinian project of Henri Parent, owner of La Violette in Pomerol. Intensely fragrant on the nose, so perfumed and so full of ripe black fruits. This has such concentration and fullness, massy tannins and a hearty dose of wood giving a strong caramel toast aspect to the edges of the wine alongside liquorice, black cherries and plums. It's big, bold and structured with lovely acidity and intensity of flavour, also with some stone minerality. A specific style, very aromatic and quite oaky so it would pair excellently with red meat. There is a finesse to this though, it's been well worked and is reminiscent of the glamour you find in Pomerol. A very long life ahead. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter

Lot of blue fruit, cassis, hot stones, mocha, pine and some orange peel on the nose. Full-bodied with a creamy, melting tannin texture. Plush and ripe. Yet, it remains agile. Mineral at the end. Drink or hold. - James Suckling