Editors notes
Château La Dominique has always been involved in sustainable agriculture, reigning over a 25-hectare vineyard planted on an exceptional terroir, with a combination of brown clay soils and sandy soils on a clay sub-layer. The vines are 30 years old on average.
Château La Dominique 2020 is made of a blend of Merlot (85%), Cabernet Franc (12%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (3%). Floral and dark fruit fragrances precede a balanced, fruity and wonderfully fresh palate. Château La Dominique 2020 seduces with its tight and delicate tannins, as well as its persistency on the palate.
Details
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Wine Type
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Cellaring
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Light (Light)Full (Full)
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Low Tannin (Low Tannin)Tannic (Tannic)
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Sweet (Sweet)Dry (Dry)
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Low Acidity (Low Acidity)High Acidity (High Acidity)
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Aroma
- Blueberry
- Boysenberry
- Herbal
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Palate
- Blue Fruits
- Cassis
- Graphite
Food Pairings
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Red Meat
Critic Scores & reviews
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Vinous
96"The 2020 La Dominique is eye-opening. Warm, dry summer weather caused natural dehydration on the vine, which in turn yielded a Dominique of unusual depth and concentration. Yields were 38 hectoliters per hectare, as opposed to 50 in 2019 and 46 in 2018, which seems to work so well in giving the 2020 an extra bit of everything. Even with all its richness, the 2020 remains bright and full of energy. Red-toned fruit, pomegranate, cinnamon, menthol and rose petal all open effortlessly, but it is the wine’s sheer textural resonance that impresses most. Tasted next to the 2018 and 2019, the 2020 is quite simply on another level. Harvest started on September 10 for the Merlot and wrapped up in the 30th with the Cabernets. The blend is 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. Élevage is expected to be 14 months, mostly in French oak (50% new), with about 10% of the wine aged in amphora. I can’t wait to taste the 2020 from bottle. It is a superb effort from the team led by General Manager Gwendeline Lucas and Technical Director Yann Monties."
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James Suckling
95"Very tight and focused red from here with blackberry, iodine and stone aromas and flavors. It’s medium-to full-bodied with ripe tannins that are fine-grained and show length. Pretty."
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Decanter
95"Another successful vintage for La Dominique, ruby colour with violet reflections, this has the measured delivery of succulent damson and black cherry fruit, clearly gong for a gourmet-feel with grilled butterscotch and cocoa beans. It totally works - has firm tannins, cooling blue fruits and freshness through the middle, no dip in the mid palate and waves of secondary aromatics. Serious, and a clear progression of the past few vintages."
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Locations
France
Wine is being produced throughout France and has been done for over 2,500 years with certain Châteaux dating their history back to Roman times, around 6th Century BC. Ranking second in the world in per-capita consumption and first in total production quantity. More so than the overall quantity of wine is the quantity of truly great wines coming out of France makes the nation the envy of wine-making nations worldwide.
Two concepts pivotal to the higher end French wines, in particular, are the idea of 'terroir' and the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system. Terroir refers to the way the geography, geology and climate find their way into the glass, telling a story of the origin of the wine. The AOC was set up in 1935 and has the primary goal of protecting the authenticity of the wines and the livelihoods of the producers. Appellation rules strictly define which varieties of grapes and winemaking practices are approved for classification in each of France's several hundred geographically defined appellations, which can cover entire regions, individual villages or in some cases, like in Burgundy even specific vineyards.
Classic wine regions in France include Champagne (home of Champagne), Burgundy (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot), Alsace (Aromatic varietals), Loire Valley (Chenin Blanc, Crémant) and the Rhône Valley (Syrah, Grenache Mourvedre)
The Bordeaux classification of 1855 is still in use, as is the Sauternes and Barsac Classification of the same year. Wines from certain regions can be bought En Primeur, which is when the wine is sold prior to it being bottled.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux has a rich history of winemaking, dating back to the Roman times. Today, it is known as one of the most significant wine regions in the world, with a reputation for producing complex, full-bodied red wines. The region is home to a diverse range of terroirs, each with its own unique microclimate, soil composition, and grape varieties.
The left bank of Bordeaux is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, which thrives in the region's gravelly soils. These wines tend to be bold, tannic, and complex, with notes of blackcurrant, cedar, and tobacco. On the right bank, Merlot is king, producing wines that are softer and fruitier, with notes of plum, cherry, and chocolate.
Aside from the red blends, Bordeaux is also renowned for its sweet wines, particularly from the Sauternes and Barsac appellations. These wines are made using a unique process that involves botrytis, or "noble rot," which concentrates the sugars in the grapes, resulting in a lusciously sweet and complex wine.
Bordeaux's classification system has evolved over time, with some estates moving up or down the ranks depending on the quality of their wines. Today, the system includes five growths, with Premier Cru being the highest and Deuxièmes Crus being the second-highest. There is also a separate classification for the sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac, with Chateau d’Yquem holding the highest rank.
Overall, Bordeaux is a region that continues to captivate wine enthusiasts around the world with its rich history, diverse terroirs, and exceptional wines.
Saint-Emilion
Saint-Émilion, a prestigious and historic appellation located on the right bank of the Gironde river in Bordeaux, France, is a red-wine-only region that has earned a well-deserved spot on the World Heritage List. Although Saint-Émilion is situated inland from the Atlantic Ocean, it still benefits from the moderating influence of the river and the cool, humid climate of the region, which is ideal for cultivating early-ripening grape varieties.
Merlot, the primary grape variety in Saint-Émilion, is renowned for its plump, juicy fruit flavors and velvety tannins, and it is typically blended with Cabernet Franc, which adds structure, tannin, and complexity. Some châteaux also grow small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, which contributes additional depth and richness to the final blend.
Wine styles in Saint-Émilion can range from simple, easy-drinking wines that are perfect for enjoying in their youth to premium Grand Cru Classé wines that are among the most coveted and sought-after in the world. The quality of the wine is influenced by many factors, including location, vine age, and winemaking techniques.
The best wines from Saint-Émilion are characterized by their intense, concentrated aromas and flavors of red and black plums, often accompanied by notes of vanilla and clove from aging in new oak barrels. These wines are typically full-bodied, with high alcohol content and robust tannins, which provide structure and aging potential. Over time, bottle aging will soften the tannins, allowing the wine's rich fruit flavors to fully express themselves.
It's worth noting that Saint-Émilion has its own classification system for Premier Grand Cru Classé and Grand Cru Classé wines, which is updated every decade to reflect the changing quality of the region's wines. This system serves as a benchmark for quality and helps consumers to identify the best wines from this renowned appellation.
About the brand Chateau La Dominique
Château La Dominique, a St. Emilion Grand Cru Classé property had an illustrious reputation during the 19th century which it has recently reclaimed. The catalyst for its modern renaissance was its purchase by motorway tycoon Clément Fayat in 1969. He installed a brand new cuvier and introduced new techniques in the vineyard. He also engaged the services of the ubiquitous Michel Rolland. La Dominique is located on the border with the Pomerol appellation and its vineyards adjoin those of Cheval Blanc. The soils are a mixture of limestone, gravel, sand and clay and the 22 hectares of vineyards are planted with Merlot (80%), Cabernet Franc (15%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%). The grapes are fermented in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks and the wine is then aged in oak barriques (50-60% new) for 18 months. La Dominique produces intense, ultra ripe, and opulent clarets, which, while hard to resist, tend to show at their best with 7-10 years of bottle ageing.
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