Chateau La Dominique 2017

Only 15% of the vineyard for this 2017 with a high proportion of Cabernet Franc; fresh, light and full of fruit, but lacking structure.

Lively, with loganberry, damson plum and red currant fruit forming the core. A racy mineral streak runs through the middle, while fresh savory and floral nuances emerge along the edges. Focused, lengthy and elegant. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2021 through 2031. 2,230 cases made.

Character and brambly bilberry fruit on the attack, but it trails off quicker than it should. Tasted in London and again at the estate, and each time it showed a Cabernet Franc dominance, with clear floral edges along with blackcurrant bud and hedgerow. The frost meant they had yields of just 18hl/ha. The oak is extremely carefully measured, with the fruit in focus and a good, clean finish. Impressive handling of a tough vintage.

There’s a rich thread of dark berries, as well as blood-orange, spicy and leafy notes. The palate has a supple and succulent core of quite ripe, fleshy fruit in the darker-berry spectrum. Good depth here. Drink or hold.

The 2017 La Dominique has a pleasant bouquet with quite understated red berry fruit laced with leather and light loam aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly dry tannins surrounding a core of cedar-infused red fruit. A more classically styled La Dominique than in recent years, nevertheless I would like a little more complexity on the finish. Not bad overall though.

Flowers, cherries, licorice, incense and soft, silky textures define the wine. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, silky, charming, and finishes with fresh dark cherry and licorice. Made from blending 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The harvest took place from September 15 to September 29. The wine reached 13% ABV. Due to frost, 70% of the harvest was lost.

Deep dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening, fresh plums, ripe cherries, a hint of orange zest, attractive bouquet. Juicy, fine fruit sweetness, almost Burgundy-like texture, lively structure, lemony finish, delicate red berry aftertaste.

Drinking nicely, the 2017 Chateau La Dominique offers a forward, complex style that’s loaded with ripe dark fruits, truffle, tobacco, and earthy, chocolaty nuances. Playing in the medium-bodied spectrum, it has silky tannins, no hard edges, and is a charming, elegant 2017 to enjoy over the coming 10–15 years. This estate was devastated by the spring frosts, and the blend is shifted toward Cabernet Franc, with the final blend being 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Dense purplish garnet with a violet rim. Complex bouquet of cherry and cassis, followed by licorice, Alpine blueberries, and plenty of fragrant violets. On the palate it is powerful, packed with dense muscle, yet has the necessary reserves to carry it. The focused finish shows cherry juice and a salty extract – very well made, on par with last year!

Kunz barrel sample 18: (80% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18 hl/ha) Delicately off-dry, spicy, subtly vegetal bouquet, blackberries, cherries, fresh wood. Medium-bodied palate with fine grip, sweet fruit, finely sandy tannins, medium structure, sweet aromatics, fresh finish. Has room to improve.

Fruity, velvety, powerful bouquet, red and blue berries, roasted notes, caramel, red licorice, mocha. Velvety, creamy palate with sweet fruit, fine tannins, fresh aromatics, elegant structure, long, delicate finish. Has room to improve further. 17/20 2023 - 2042

This is extremely juicy, with delicate and buoyant tannins that make it a standout in the vertical, clear texture to the raspberry fruit, a touch of raspberry leaf, and a saline kick on the finish. First vintage for Gwendeline Lucas as director where she was making all the decisions, and it is a good one. 40% new oak, 10% in amphora and in vegetal polymer eggs. Just 16 hl/ha yield, and yet it delivers an overall juicy feel.

La Dominique 2017 is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. It shimmies out with vibrant scents of Bing cherries, redcurrant jelly, and black raspberries, plus suggestions of dried mint and forest floor. Light to medium-bodied, the palate is delicate and refreshing, with a light chewiness to the tannins and a savory finish.

Broad, structured palate with a hint of greenness mid-palate and supple tannins.

The bouquet of La Dominique 2017 shows good intensity. It is precise and clean, revealing fruity notes as well as freshness. The palate is tasty and fruit-driven. The wine is slightly creamy and well supported by its structure and tannins. The latter are fine and perfectly integrated. A pleasant, elegant wine.

Dark, intense, and bright color. The nose is a little discreet but refined, with pure fruit. The suppleness on the attack is superb. The wine glides across the palate, aromatic, with a slender body and a touch of firmness — cabernet oblige — that lingers. A success given the intense frost affecting this cru.

92–94. Barrel Sample. This wine is initially closed, only allowing the fruit to show more strongly as it develops in the glass. However, there is fruit here along with some firm tannins. The aftertaste is juicy and fruity.

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 La Dominique delivers notes of warm plums, baked blackberries and tar with hints of fried herbs, unsmoked cigars and Marmite toast. Medium-bodied, the palate is refreshing and straightforward with soft tannins and a lively finish.