By Chateau La Dominique
Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe 2016

Estate
Chateau La Dominique is well located in the northwest of Saint-Emilion, a neighbor of Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau Figeac, on the outskirts of the Pomerol appellation. It's been the estate of Clement Fayat since 1969. Nowadays, Chateau La Dominique skillfully harmonizes modernity and tradition with a high-tech cellar designed by Jean Nouvel.

Vineyard Details
Production Area: 23 ha
Terroir: Brown soils with clay, old sands mixed with gravel on a clay sub-layer
Plant Density: 6,000 vines per hectare
Average Vine Age: 35 years
Pruning: Guyot simple, with the load adapted to the vigor of each vine
Yield: 42 hl/ha

Wine Details
Grape Varieties: 80% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon
Harvest: Entirely hand-picked from September 29th to October 12th (Merlot), October 14th to 18th (Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon)
Vinification: In thermo-regulated stainless steel tronconic vats
Aging: 16 months in 60% new oak barrels
pH: 3.7
[Information provided by Beyerman]

Wine: 2016 La Dominique
Score/Rating: 94
Suggested Drinking Window: 2022 - 2036
Review Date: 12/08/2022
Reviewed By: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Tasting Notes: Deep garnet in color, the 2016 La Dominique reveals classic plum preserves, blackberry pie, and cedar chest scents with touches of licorice, violets, and black pepper. The full-bodied palate is full-on decadent, with tons of rich, expressive black fruits and ripe, rounded tannins, finishing fragrant.

Wine: 2016 Chateau La Dominique (St. Emilion Grand Cru)
Score/Rating: 94
Review Date: 09/21/2019
Tasting Notes: The debut vintage for the new label here, the updated, feminine design fits the approach of the wine. Licorice, black cherry, flowers and sweet cherries are all over the place. The wine is refined, pure and fresh, allowing its sweet, ripe, fresh, pure, red fruit essence to show with ease, from start to finish. This should age quite nicely.

Wine: Chateau La Dominique St.-Emilion 2016
Score/Rating: 94
Review Date: 01/13/2019
Reviewed By: James Suckling
Tasting Notes: 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. [...] good aging potential.

Wine: Chateau La Dominique St.-Emilion 2016
Score/Rating: 93
Suggested Drinking Window: Drink now through 2034
Review Date: 03/31/2019
Reviewed By: James Molesworth
Tasting Notes: 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.

Wine: Chateau la Dominique 2016 Barrel Sample (Saint-Emilion)
Score/Rating: 93
Suggested Drinking Window: Enjoy through 2032
Review Date: 04/01/2017
Reviewed By: Roger Voss
Tasting Notes: 92-94. Barrel Sample. 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.

Wine: 2016 Chateau La Dominique
Score/Rating: 92
Suggested Drinking Window: 2019 - 2039
Review Date: 02/28/2019
Reviewed By: Jeb Dunnuck
Tasting Notes: Tasted on multiple occasions, the 2016 Chateau 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 [...] in [...] oak [...], 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.

Wine: 2016 La Dominique
Score/Rating: 92
Suggested Drinking Window: 2020 - 2034
Review Date: 11/30/2018
Reviewed By: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Tasting Notes: 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, sauteed 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.

Wine: Chateau La Dominique, St-Emilion, Grand Cru Classe, 2016
Score/Rating: 91
Suggested Drinking Window: 2023 - 2045
Review Date: 03/03/2023
Reviewed By: Georgie Hindle, Vincenzo Arnese, Arthur Coggill
Tasting Notes: Aromatic with smoke, dark fruit and perfume on the nose. Supple, ripe, juicy with bold concentration and focused dark, plumy fruit. Full-bodied with a liquorice, clove and spiced cedar edge. Delicate acidity and grainy tannins on the finish.

Wine: 2016 La Dominique
Score/Rating: 89
Suggested Drinking Window: 2026 - 2036
Review Date: 02/2026
Reviewed By: Neal Martin
Tasting Notes: The 2016 La Dominique offers a mixture of red and black fruit, singed leather, cedar and undergrowth that gathers momentum with time. Fine delineation, and here the oak is neatly integrated. The palate is taut and fresh, fine grip, quite spicy, but missing some complexity towards the finish compared to its peers. Enjoyable…but give me more, like previous bottles. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.

Wine: Ch La Dominique 2016 St-Emilion
Score/Rating: 15/20
Suggested Drinking Window: 2024 - 2030
Review Date: 02/26/2026
Reviewed By: Jancis Robinson
Tasting Notes: Tasted blind. Mid intensity on the nose and something a bit stony. A bit harsh on palate entry and there are signs of over-extraction; also alcohol. Jancis Robinson