Chateau La Dominique Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe 2018 i trækasse

Jeb Dunnuck

Tasting more like a great Pomerol than a Saint-Emilion (which makes sense given its location), the 2018 Château La Dominique is a knockout winner in this great vintage and should be snatched up by readers. A blend of 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, it reveals a dense purple hue as well as gorgeous notes of crème de cassis, ripe black cherries, spring flowers, damp earth, and truffle. These carry to a full-bodied, sweetly fruited, sexy 2018 with incredible purity, a solid spine of acidity (the pH is 3.65), ultra-fine tannins, and a great, great finish. It's already impossible to resist, yet it should evolve for 15-20 years with no issues. Bravo!

Sue Allen Smith, Sommelier

Tastingbook.com

James Suckling

Aromas of blueberry, mulberry, spiced plum, walnut, tobacco and cigar box on the nose. It’s full-bodied with firm, silky tannins that frame a core of ripe blue and purple fruit. Polished and rich with wonderful depth. Better from 2024.

Wine Enthusiast

This estate, backing on to Château Cheval Blanc, has produced an intensely structured wine also full of rich fruits. It has the weight and density typical of this warm vintage, giving a powerhouse of black fruit and structure.

Antonio Galloni

The 2018 La Dominique burst from the glass with an exotic mélange of ripe red fruit, blood orange, spice and cedar. La Dominique is a rich wine, but it also has enough energy and verve to balance things out. All the elements fall into place effortlessly. I especially admire the delineation and nuance in the 2018. This is such a gorgeous wine, especially with a bit of aeration.

Vinifera

Falstaff

Deep dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, subtle lightening of the edges. Delicate spicy wood, a hint of black cherries and nougat, hint of tobacco. Juicy, black cherries, fine extract sweetness, integrated silky tannins, shows good freshness that encourages drinking, mineral notes in the finish, good potential for development.

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

Soft, silky and elegant, with no effort it is easy to get hooked on the fresh, sweet, ripe, refined red fruits with their beautiful purity. Medium-bodied, with a noticeable savory complexity on the nose and palate, this should age quite nicely. The wine is made from blending 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Markus del Monego MW

Andreas Larsson, Tasted

Izak Litwar, Great Bordeaux Wines

Jean-Marc Quarin

VV Wine

Spicy-fruity nose, also flowers, shows depth. Firm, dense on the palate, the wine shows vigor and class, fine tannin structure, energetic and again with spice on the finish. Very beautiful!

Vert de Vin Magazine

The nose is fruity, fresh and offers concentration as well as a good freshness. It reveals notes of fresh blackberry and fresh/fleshy cassis associated with fine touches of red fruits, liquorice, Cuben pepper, flower as well as a discreet hint of spices. The palate is fruity, fresh, well-balanced and offers a beautiful acidulous frame, a good definition, tension, a good juiciness, a beautiful suavity as well as precision. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fleshy blackberry, fleshy/juicy/fresh strawberry and small notes of juicy cassis associated with small touches of juicy raspberry, juicy cherry, liquorice as well as hints of cardamom, tea and chocolate. Tannins are well-built. Good length. A fine sapidity as well as a touch of almond on the finish.

Decanter

Platinum Winner: High-toned and hedonistic displaying multitudes of arresting blackcurrant, prune and fig aroma with a beguiling minty floral lift. Sensuous and velvety, framed by verdant tannins which entwine with the sleek acidity. This will run and run.