$156.49
In Stock
Blend: ~85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Vinification / Aging: ~14 months in oak (about 50% new), with part of the wine also aged in amphora / other vessels per the estate’s modern approach.
The 2020 La Dominique opens with a rich, layered, and expressive bouquet. Key aromatic notes often cited by critics:
Black and dark fruit: blackberry, black cherry, black plum,
Dark and savoury undercurrents: graphite or pencil‑lead minerality, subtle earth or truffle‑like tones, a touch of cedar / tobacco / cedar chest / cigar‑box character.
Spice and complexity: hints of chocolate, cocoa, clove or spice, possibly wawes of minerality and saline / limestone-driven nuance per the terroir.
Floral and subtle secondary notes: some versions mention a whisper of violet or other florals, or a “bouquet garni” herbal edge.
Overall, the nose is concentrated, deep and layered, combining ripe fruit richness with refined mineral and savoury complexity.
Many consider it reminiscent of a plush, more Pomerol‑style profile rather than austere classic Bordeaux.
On the palate, the 2020 La Dominique delivers a beautiful balance between richness, freshness, and structure:
Texture and body: medium-to-full bodied, with a plush yet defined mouthfeel. The tannins are generally described as fine‑grained, smooth but firm, offering good backbone without harshness.
Fruit core: blackberries, black cherries, cassis, plums — ripe but not jammy, with depth and density.
Secondary flavours: cocoa or dark chocolate, tobacco/cedar, earth or graphite, slight smoked or mineral undercurrent (esp. on the finish).
Acidity & freshness: despite the richness, the wine sustains good freshness and lift — preventing it from becoming heavy and giving it vibrancy and a sense of elegance that carries through the finish.
The palate shows a harmonious melding of fruit, tannin, oak and minerality — resulting in a wine that feels supple yet structured, generous yet refined.
Finish: Long, persistent — lingering dark fruit, spice, mineral and savoury notes, with a clean, smooth fade.
Evolution / Cellaring: Many reviewers and producers consider 2020 to be one of the best recent vintages for La Dominique.
The wine now should be excellent with decanting, but it also has the structure — tannins, acidity, depth — to age gracefully through at least 2035–2040 (some suggest even longer).
It strikes a nice balance: approachable now (with air) and built for the long haul.
The 2020 Château La Dominique is a compelling, elegant Grand Cru that showcases the estate at (arguably) a peak moment.
It is rich and expressive, with ripe black‑fruit depth, mineral undertones, well‑integrated oak, and refined structure — a blend of Bordeaux technique and a Pomerol‑adjacent plushness.
For lovers of Merlot-dominant Right Bank wines who appreciate density + elegance + ageworthiness, this 2020 is a very strong pick.
Ideal drinking window: 2024 (after decanting) → 2035–2040+
15% alc./vol.
