Lindaflor La Violeta 2013

Uco Valley (Valle de Uco) is a key wine-growing region of Mendoza, Argentina. An hour's drive south of Mendoza, it is home to some of the region's most famous wines.  It attracted the attention of Henri Parent, the owner Château La Violette, a tiny estate of 1.8 hectares situated on the Pomerol plateau between Château Trotanoy and Le Pin.  After acquiring the estate formerly known as Bodega Monteviejo in 1999, Henri Parent retained the talented Marcelo Pelleriti as the winemaker and director for his new adventure in Argentina.  To reflect the parentage, the wine was renamed Lindaflor La Violeta.

South American wines, generally, are drunk while young.  What's often lost is the opportunity to see what they can do after long aging.  Recognizing the full aging potential of a 100% Malbec wine, starting with the 2013 vintage, Henri Parent decided to age the wine in the cellars until it optimally displays the true quality of this fabulous Mendoza production.  After eight years of patient aging, for the first time ever, the 2013 vintage of Lindaflor La Violeta was released for sale in September 2022.

Having tasted this wine, we give it two thumbs up and wholeheartedly recommend it to our clients.  The eight years it has had in the cellar just renders it perfectly ready to be enjoyed.  Yet, it will easily age another 20-plus years to showcase what a true 100% Malbec wine can deliver.

"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 (3/5/2022) Rating: 96, Drink: 2022-2036 

"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 Rating: 95 

"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, Rating: 96