Chateau La Dominique 2017

WEINWISSER: "Dichtes Purpurgranat mit violettem Rand. Komplexes Bouquet mit Kirschen und Cassis, dahinter Lakritze, Alpenheidelbeeren und viel duftige Veilchen. Am kräftigen Gaumen mit dichten Muskeln besetzt, aber er hat die notwendigen Reserven, um diese zu stemmen. Im gebündelten Finale Kirschensaft und salziger Extrakt – sehr gut gemacht, auf dem Niveau wie letztes Jahr!"

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

JAMES SUCKLING: "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."

DECANTER: "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 working of a tough vintage."

WINE SPECTATOR: "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."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, frische Zwetschken, reife Herzkirschen, ein Hauch von Orangenzesten, atraktives Bukett. Saftig, feine Fruchtsüße, fast burgundisch anmutende Textur, lebendig strukturiert, zitroniger Nachhall, delikater rotbeeriger Nachhall."

JEB DUNNUCK: "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."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "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."