Château La Dominique - Saint-Émilion Grand Cru (Grand Cru Classé) 2016 (750ml)

The nose is still a bit shy, but there’s lovely, delicate, floral character. Sleek, bright and quite structured with plenty of earthy character. The moderately tannic finish is long, fine and complex. Better in 2020 and good aging potential.

Restrained and elegant on the attack, this has plenty of dense, dark black fruit to back it up. The palate opens to show complexity and intensity of fruit, and totally delivers on its opulent and silky billing, with lovely touches of spice to pick up the finish. Well constructed. It is planted to 80% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 70% new oak with Michel Rolland as consultant. 49hl/ha yield, 3.75pH. Drinking Window 2027 - 2050

 

 

An alluring, intriguing style, featuring dark fig, boysenberry and melted licorice notes wrapped together and flowing through, while hints of graphite and warm ganache hang in the background. Feels polished, with well-buried racy acidity. Distinctive and nicely done. Drink now through 2034.

This wine is impressive in both structure and ripe, generous fruits. It is solid, with good potential for aging, though the dark tannins suggest that it will develop slowly. Enjoy through 2032.

 

The 2016 La Dominique is composed of 80% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. It was aged for 16 months in 60% new oak and 20% one-year-old oak from four different coopers and 20% in tanks. Deep garnet-purple colored, it features black cherry compote, blackberry pie, sautéed herbs and tree bark with wafts of tobacco and a touch of underbrush. The palate is medium to full-bodied, very firm and structured with a lively lift to the finish. About 6,666 cases produced.

Tasted on multiple occasions, the 2016 Château La Dominique is unquestionably an outstanding wine. From vines just east of Cheval Blanc and a blend of 80% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon brought up 40% in new oak (20% of the blend was in tank), it reveals a deep ruby/purple color as well as a stacked bouquet of sweet red and black fruits intermixed with more subtle tobacco, cedary spice, and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, balanced, and a classic 2016 (as well as classic Saint-Emilion), it’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and drink well for two decades.

Reasonably well-filled even if a bit slow to show it after starting out with a relatively subdued, gently oaked nose of black cherries and plums, La Dominique opens and unfolds on the palate to reveal better fruity depth while showing a bit of juicy opulence and touches of graphite and violets that are unpredicted by its aromas. It is not overly tough, but it is moderately tannic and some time away from prime-time drinking, and it is best tagged for cellaring for a good six to ten years.