Chateau La Dominique Saint Emilion Wine Tasting at WWWB

"You have only so many bottles in your life, never drink a bad one."
Len Evans

We intend to drink every bottle of great wine that we can!!  Just last week we hosted a DRC Versus Leroy and our annual California Cult tasting.  This week we have Gramercy Cellars from Washington State, Veuve Clicquot and our annual Gaja and white truffle dinner on Friday!  We have an incredible line-up of tastings the next two months until we shut the Wine Bar down in December to make sure all the big kids get their Wine Watch gift boxes in time for the holidays.  Only a few weeks left in our 2017 drinking season!!

And I can’t ever remember a Chateau La Dominique that I have had that was not great.  This Chateau is the next-door neighbor to the great Chateau Cheval Blanc and is a fraction of the cost.  Next week Victor Bonnet will be here from the Chateau to discuss the different vintages and dinner is included in the $75 price!   The only extra that you will have to pay is UBER. 

Chateau La Dominique Tasting at WWWB
with special Guest Victor Bonnet
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
7:30 PM

Reception

NV Champagne Jeeper Brut Grande Reserve Blanc De Blanc
Price: $69.00       Sale $60.72          Case $704

A brilliant pale gold colour. Mineral and floral aromas. Silky-smooth, lively and fruity in the mouth, with citrus notes. A powerful start and a long finish. An extremely refined champagne, this is a blend of 11 of the finest Chardonnay vineyards in Montagne de Reims, the Côte des Blancs and Vitryat country. This makes a perfect aperitif, but is also strong enough to pair with fish and white meat.

Seated Tasting Line-up

Clement Pichon Haut Medoc 2011
Price: $31.50       Sale $27.72          Case $322

The home estate of Clement Fayat, the proprietor of numerous properties, most notably La Dominique in St.-Emilion, this beautiful chateau in the southern part of the Medoc has produced a dark ruby-colored 2011 displaying attractive, round, sweet fruit, ripe tannin, and a charming personality. It transcends many wines in this vintage, so enjoy it over the next 4-5 years. Wine Advocate.April, 2014

Relais de la Dominique St. Emilion 2014
Price: $33.00       Sale $29.04          Case $337

The second wine of Château La Dominique, Relais de la Dominique is characterized by its charm and smoothness. Its expressive nose has aromas of red fruits, black fruit and spices, and highlights its gentle tannins. Very pleasant to taste immediately, but can also be kept for around ten years.

Chateau La Dominique St. Emilion 2012
Price: $52.50       Sale $46.20          Case $536

(94 Points)  "Above all else, the 2012 La Dominique speaks to precision. Beautifully expressive in the glass, the 2012 offers a compelling mélange of plum, lavender, mint, licorice and purplish fruits. Sweet floral and spiced notes add yet another dimension on the deep, pure finish. There is so much to like here. The 2012 is 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Michel Rolland and Jean-Philippe Fort consult. " Vinous / Antonio Galloni

Chateau La Dominique St. Emilion 2010
Price: $75.00       Sale $66.00          Case $765

A blend of 95% Merlot 5% Cabernet Franc, 20% of the wines go through Malo in stainless age 80% of the production and then only 50% are new.  A Pomerol profile this wine is very big with lots of dark plum and currant berry fruit, dark mocha, clay like minerality, very complex, a savage gamey note coming out as this wine opens.  Only 65,000 bottles produced, a big and rich wine on the tongue with firm tannins and a good deal of that clay like minerality wonderful freshness and balance with a long-layered finish.  Finish 50+      Most Excellent

Chateau La Dominique St. Emilion 2008
Price: $69.00       Sale $60.72          Case $704

(90 Points) An unqualified sleeper of the vintage, the dark ruby/purple-tinged 2008 La Dominique reveals black olive, licorice, tobacco leaf, raspberry and kirsch liqueur characteristics. Deep and medium to full-bodied with supple tannins, an endearing texture and a lush, long, seamlessly constructed finish, this wine can be enjoyed now and over the next 10-12 years.  The Wine Advocate

Menu

Selection of Charcuterie:  Bresaola, Prosciutto di san Daniele, Ault Irish Cheddar and Barely Buzzed

Duck Confit with Currant Bordeaux Natural Sauce Hericot Verts and Potato Flan

Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee with House Made Currant Jelly

The fee for this tasting is $75 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com

A bit about Chateau La Dominique overview by: The Wine Cellar Insider

Chateau La Dominique has a long history in the region that dates back to the 1700’s. The estate takes its name from an island in the Caribbean that was where the original owner of the property earned his fortune, Dominique.

Owned by the Fayat family since 1969, when they purchased the estate from the de Bailliencourt family, who counted the vineyards among their holdings since 1933. The de Bailliencourt family still own Chateau Gazin in Pomerol. Chateau La Dominique has experienced numerous changes over the previous two decades since it was obtained by Clement Fayat.

Clement Fayat is an interesting character who started out as a bricklayer before founding one of the largest construction companies in the world. It took a few years until Clement Fayat began to invest in the vineyards and wine making at the property. Initially new drainage systems were placed in the vineyards, and a new wine cellar was built. The estate also purchased additional land, increasing the size of the vineyards.

Dominique Mirror Chateau La Dominique St. Emilion Bordeaux Wine, Complete Guide

Things appear to be getting better at La Dominique, especially since Jean-Luc Thunevin came aboard in 2007 to consult. Clement Fayat, the owner of La Dominique also counts among his holdings, Chateau Fayat in Pomerol and Clement Pichon in the Haut Medoc appellation. The family also recently purchased Vieux Fortin in St. Emilion. The 5 hectare vineyard is located adjacent to La Dominique. Rumors and common sense says, they are trying to have those vines incorporated into the classified hectares at La Dominique.

Chateau La Dominique Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 29 hectare vineyard consists of 23 planted hectares, of which 18 are classified as Grand Cru Classe. The vineyard of Chateau La Dominique is planted to 81% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is the goal of the estate to increase the portion of Cabernet Franc in the vineyards until they reach 20% of their total plantings. The terroir is deep gravel over clay with some sand in the soil. This is similar in some parts as to what you find at Chateau Cheval Blanc, which in part, accounts for the refined style of wine at both properties.

In fact, as you might expect, the best parcels in the La Dominique vineyard are located next to Cheval Blanc, and quite close to the Pomerol border. However, there are also patches of deep clay soil at La Dominique. The vine density ranges between 7,000 and 9,000 vines per hectare. La Dominique has good neighbors. Chateau La Dominique is situated not far from Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau Figeac in Saint Emilion as well as La Conseillante and LEvangile in Pomerol. As you can see from just looking at their neighbors, it is easy to note that Chateau La Dominique is located close to the border of Pomerol, Saint Emilion, which explains in part, the natural elegance and freshness in their wine.

La Dominique Cellars 300x200 Chateau La Dominique St. Emilion Bordeaux Wine, Complete Guide

The oldest part of the vineyard was planted in 1967. Starting in 2006, the estate began a massal selection program for the planting for their Cabernet Franc. The estate is experimenting with biodynamic farming. 5 hectares of the vineyard are now farmed using biodynamic farming techniques. The number of hectares biodynamically farmed is expected to increase in time. It is the goal of the estate to increase the percentage of Cabernet Franc in the vineyards over time.

In 2013, Chateau La Dominique finished their two year, complete renovation of the entire estate including the chateau, cellars, wine making facilities, grape reception area and a larger vat house designed by the noted architect, Jean Nouvel. The building was designed to resemble an inverted mirror making it in some ways, look like a futuristic ship, at least according to the chateau. The bright red, wine colored walls double as a work of art that reflects the vineyard and terror of Chateau La Dominique. The bright, wine colored building can be seen from quite a distance, which has caused some issues with some of their neighbors.

Everything at La Dominique is intended to be the most up to date, modern technology available. This includes isolated, stainless steel tanks with double thermo-controlled skins and variable levels of capacity. This will allow for very precise vinification on a parcel by parcel basis. The wine will only travel by gravity. There will also be a cold room and La Dominique will continue using optical sorters as well, but as of now, they are still in an experimental capacity.

At Chateau La Dominique, fermentation takes place in 22, 73 hectoliter, thermo-regulated, stainless steel steel vats with a 25-35 day maceration. Malolactic fermentation takes place in a combination of new oak barrels and vat. The wine is aged on its lees for five to six months with the lees stirred during the first month. Chateau La Dominique is aged in 50% to 70% new oak for about 18 months.

2013 La Dominique St. Emilion 300x200 Chateau La Dominique St. Emilion Bordeaux Wine, Complete Guide

Interestingly, the wine was almost 100% Merlot for the 2009 Bordeaux vintage. The estate produces a second wine, Saint-Paul-de-Dominique. Production averages slightly more than 7,000 cases per year.

The best vintages of Chateau La Dominique are: 2016, 2015, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2005, 2000, 1990, 1989 and 1982. I have not tasted very old wines from the estate, but it’s possible that with proper storage, they could be quite good.

As you can see, Chateau La Dominique is spending the money needed to ramp up the quality of their wines to the highest level possible. Chateau La Dominique is also increasing their wine tourism activities. In 2014, they opened a restaurant on the property that is managed by Brasserie Bordelais, located in the city of Bordeaux. The stairway to the roof top restaurant is a stunning work of art with its reflecting red walls and open sky motif.

Chateau La Dominique is not a powerful, concentrated wine. It’s an elegantly styled St. Emilion with medium/full body, silky tannins and offers a complex aromatic profile that ages well. The 1989 and 1990 are still drinking great today, but for close to 20 years, this Right Bank property seemed to languish. Starting with the 2009 vintage, it’s easy to see and taste the resurgence in quality.

www.vignobles-fayat.com

Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/bordeaux-wine-producer-profiles/bordeaux/st-emilion/la-dominique/

2009 La Dominique

Price: $95.00

2014 La Dominique

Price: $62.50

2015 La Dominique

Price: $78.75