Château La Dominique Saint-Emilion 2020 - Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

This 23-hectare estate is owned by the Fayat family (Fayat in Pomerol and Clément-Pichon in the Médoc). In constant progression, the cru has produced wines worthy of the legendary Pomerol plateau in recent vintages. Since 2011, the percentage of grand vin has fallen from 80% to 55%, gaining in complexity. The percentage of Cabernet Franc is increasing, and the cru is changing dimension, with a finer grain, more subtle tannic intensity and a more nuanced fruitiness.

Decanter

About the wine:

Another successful vintage for La Dominique. Ruby in color with violet highlights, this wine has a measured delivery of succulent Damask fruit and black cherry, with a gourmet feel of toasted butter caramel and cocoa beans. This works perfectly - firm tannins, refreshing blue fruit and freshness on the mid-palate, no mid-palate dip and waves of secondary aromas. Serious and a clear improvement on recent vintages. 2027-2042

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

Freshly mentholated, with notes of ripe fruit and a touch of spice and vanilla, this wine opens with a powerful, greedy nose. This is followed by a mouth full of charm, framed by generous, full-bodied tannins, with a more compact finish that gives the wine great persistence. Clearly, this wine should be kept for a long time. 2027-2036

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the domain :

"The château is remarkably well situated on the edge of Pomerol, next to Cheval Blanc, on sandy-gravelly soils with a background of iron dross. A victim of frost in 1956, the vineyard was restored to health by Clément Fayat, who bought it in 1969. Substantial investments were made to bring the estate up to the top, and Michel Roland joined in, with parcel-based vinification and micro-oxygenation. The proportion of new barrels is between 50% and 70%.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

With its red building visible from afar, La Dominique has bet big on wine tourism. From the panoramic terrace/restaurant above the winery, you can keep an eye on your neighbors on the western plateau near Pomerol. The estate (29 hectares of clay-limestone, sandy-clay and gravel soils), owned by Correzian entrepreneur Clément Fayat, has undergone major changes on the advice of Julien Viaud (Rolland team): planting of selections massales, use of amphorae and glass eggs... For a long time, La Dominique remained in the soft underbelly of the appellation, but the stylistic evolution of this great wine has been perceptible since 2018.

Vinous A. Galloni

About the wine:

La Dominique 2020 is as impressive as it was when first released from barrel. Dark and sumptuous in the glass, this 2020 is racy and wonderfully elegant from the start. Black cherry, gravel, spice, dried flowers and espresso lend nuances of darkness to this deep, wonderfully sumptuous La Dominique. A superb wine. 2027-2040

James Suckling

About the domain :

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

From the appellation's north-western region, not far from Cheval Blanc, Château La Dominique 2020 is another round, supple and incredibly impressive wine from this region, which is clearly on an upward trajectory. A blend of 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 14 months in 50% new barrels (17% in amphora), its deep ruby/purple color is followed by a Pomerol-like bouquet of cassis, darker cherries, chocolate, truffled earth and spring flowers. Medium- to full-bodied in richness, with a round, supple, sexy mouthfeel and gorgeous tannins, this is another remarkable wine that readers will love to have in their cellars. While already very enjoyable today, it will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and will shine for the next 15+ years. 2026-2041

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

La Dominique confirms its rise to prominence with this highly accomplished vintage, masterfully led by an ambitious team. Attractive concentration, depth, balance, precision of texture and definition of tannins: everything goes up a notch in finesse and energy. The palate is suave and juicy, fresh and salivating. Note the success of the second wine, Relais de la Dominique.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

The perfume, with its white and red flowers, cherries, licorice, smoke, espresso and smoke, is magnificent. Medium-bodied, soft, silky and fresh, the wine offers layers of vibrant, sweet, clean and pure red stone fruits, black plums, earth, roasted coffee, smoke and chocolate on the palate, perfectly suited to its elegant style. This is clearly an excellent vintage for La Dominique. 2025-2050