2000 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. (NM)

Lots of wet leaf and dried fruits in this wine now. Full body, silky and dusty texture. Fresh and bright finish. Delicious now.

Blackish crimson. Sweet simple nose. Very jagged, inharmonious palate. This does not seem to me to express St-Emilion at all. Harsh. A trial. (JR)