CHÂTEAU LA DOMINIQUE

The 2000 La Dominique is a wine that I thoroughly enjoyed out of barrel but never tasted in bottle. It still has a deep colour with little ageing on the rim. The bouquet is refined and focused, almost broody dark fruits that gradually unfurl: blackberry, briary, a touch of menthol and 5-spice. The palate is medium-bodied with supple red and black fruit laced with white pepper and just a touch of dried blood. There is a little meatiness towards the (again) Pomerol-inspired finish, but the finesse and precision here surpasses all the preceding vintages. There is also a subtle note of liquorice on the aftertaste. Excellent. Tasted at the vertical tasting at La Dominique. Drinking range: 2019 - 2032 Rating: 93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2019)

Typically sexy, rich, loaded with fruit, and opulent, the dense purple-colored 2000 La Dominique may turn out to be this estate's finest wine since their wonderful duo of 1989 and 1990. It exhibits copious quantities of jammy blackberry and cassis fruit intertwined with licorice, cigar smoke, and spice box characteristics with a hint of herbs. Full-bodied and fleshy, with low acidity but high tannin, this substantial, voluptuously-textured, impressive St.-Emilion is already drinkable. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2018. Rating: 91 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, www.RobertParker.com (Mar 2005)

Medium ruby-red. Currant, mocha and tobacco leaf on the nose. Moderately sweet, silky and dense, with very good breadth and palate coverage. Showed a bit more inner-mouth energy than the Saint-Domingue tasted alongside it. Fairly intense flavors of redcurrant and tobacco carry through on the persistent, firmly tannic finish. A very good vintage for this chateau. Rating: 90 Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (May 2003)