Dominique (la) - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2022

Alexandre Ma

96

byAlexandre Mathe3/10/2025

Juicy, vibrant, and delightfully refreshing, the 2022 vintage of Château La Dominique unfolds like a romantic “Ode to Spring.” During the harvest season, I tasted the grape juice and was immediately captivated by its richness and intensity. Now, after bottling, the wine exudes a refined elegance, with a captivating violet fragrance that fills the air from meters away. Notes of peony and strawberry weave together to create a dreamy, pink-tinged romance, while the lingering hints of licorice and pepper reveal the signature spiciness of Left Bank Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine’s tannins are dense and powerful, providing a well-rounded structure, yet they melt on the palate with the delicacy of a rice wafer. In my view, this is the greatest vintage Château La Dominique.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

94

byJane Ansonthe3/7/2025

Plump ruby red in colour, lovely welcoming brambled fruit on the nose, plenty of dark cocoa bean and espresso character, but met at every point by a mandarin peel and lime zest character that adds interest and freshness. This is good quality, has the exuberance and spice of the vintage for sure but well handled. Vinified in stainless steel, aged in 50% new oak barrels, 40% one year old barrels and 10% in eggs, amphoras and wine globes. 38hl/h yield, Fayat family owners.

The Wine Cellar Insider

96

byJeff Levethe3/4/2025

La Dominique, Château

Jeb DUNNUCK

97

byJeb Dunnuckthe2/28/2025

The 2022 Château La Dominique might be the finest I've tasted from this estate. Located in the northern part of Saint-Emilion, not far from Cheval Blanc as well as the Pomerol border, with plenty of clay in the soils, it's based on 88% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, raised in 50% new barrels. Gorgeous darker currant and black cherry fruit, chocolate, leafy herbs, and a Pomerol-like damp earth character all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, has incredible purity, silky tannins, and a great finish. It's a gorgeously textured, seamless, balanced Saint-Emilion that already offers pleasure yet has a solid two decades of prime drinking ahead of it. Bravo.

Vinous

94

byNeal Martinthe2/12/2025

The 2022 La Dominique has a more generous bouquet than when I tasted it from barrel, featuring finely delineated black cherry, kirsch, orange pith and blue fruit aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannins, but there is welcome restraint and plenty of structure. Its dark chocolate patina on the finish will be absorbed with time. This is excellent.

Jamessuckling.com

95

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2025

Lead pencil, blackberry, thyme and violet aromas follow through to a full body with lots of tannins and a juicy finish. This needs some time to soften. A tannic and structured wine that will come together with time in the bottle. Best after 2029.

Vinous

96

byAntonio Gallonithe1/28/2025

The 2022 La Dominique is gorgeous, elegant and gracious. Dark red/purplish fruit, mocha, lavender, spice and new leather abound. A wine of exquisite finesse, La Dominique is positively stellar in 2022. All the elements are so well balanced. I especially admire the wine's energy and class.

Wine Spectator

93

byJames Molesworththe12/9/2024

Decanter.com

96

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/25/2023

Clean and fresh on the nose with cool blue fruit notes. Succulent and supple, lovely energy and life, with high acidity that has a sweetness and juiciness that is so enjoyable backed up with liquorice and dark chocolate edges and a salty undercurrent. Feels well worked, still quite tight and tense, there's power here but it's being funnelled directly from start to finish with real purity and precision. Well worked, finessed and presented carefully. Sappy and vibrant, a joy to taste and a great success. Has a serious side no doubt, this will age well but will also be so great to drink young and fresh. Tasted three times. 3.7pH. 60% grand vin production. Yield of 38hl/ha. Ageing 14 months, 50% new French oak barrels, 40% one wine barrels, 10% in composite eggs, amphora and wine globe. Gwen Lucas director, Yann Monties technical director and Julien Viaud consultant. Tasted three times.

Alexandre Ma

94-96

byAlexandre Mathe5/17/2023

Bursting with juiciness and a refreshing sweetness, the 2022 vintage of Château La Dominique delivers a magnificent symphony to our senses. The enticing aromas of peony and strawberry create a romantic atmosphere awash in blush hues, while the aftertaste of violets reveals a touch of spicy Cabernet Sauvignon from the Left Bank. Throughout the tasting, the rich tannins build a robust, mature structure, leaving a lingering floral note. Having sampled Château La Dominique's juice during harvest season, I was captivated by its smooth and intense palate. After tasting the En Primeur, I am more convinced than ever that this is one of Château La Dominique's finest vintages.

Vinous

93-95

byNeal Martinthe5/17/2023

The 2022 La Dominique has a backward nose, not as immediate as its peers. Consequently affording it 10 minutes to open, it reveals blackberry, raspberry, oyster shell and briny scents. Quite cerebral. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, red fruit laced with graphite and smoke, classically-styled toward the finish. This is a Saint-Émilion that has refound its mojo in recent vintages and it will repay bottle age.

The Vintage Journal

94-95

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2023

Deep crimson. Fresh black cherry, elderberry cassis aromas with some flinty notes. Inky deep with expressive dark berry fruits, fine looseknit graphite tannins and well balanced savoury, touch marzipan spicy notes. Supple and sweet fruited. All in balance. (Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon 50%+ new oak)

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

94

byJane Ansonthe5/16/2023

Deep plum in colour, vibrant edging. Plenty of personality and depth to the fruit, this has a beautiful balance of power and lightness. They really have done a great job in recent years at La Dominique of bringing out the subtle complexities of the terroir, and this highlights brushed damson and cassis, cherry pit, nectarine pit, wtih restrained crushed crock and slate character that give relief and constrast to the sweet intensity of the fruit. An impressive La Dominique that retains juice and spice if not entirely escaping the hige intensity of the vintage. Gwendeline Lucas CEO, Yann Monties (ex Haut Bailly) winemaker, 60% first wine, 50% new oak, 38hl/h yield. Tasted twice.

matthewjukes.com

17

byMatthew Jukesthe5/15/2023

The Wine Independent

91-93

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/15/2023

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2022 La Dominique needs a swirl or two to unlock notes of juicy blueberries, blackberry pie, and kirsch, giving way to underlying wafts of pencil shavings and tar. The full-bodied palate is plush and juicy, with bags of expressive black and blue fruits, finishing with a red berry lift. The blend this year is 88% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Yvesbeck.wine

92-94

byYves Beckthe5/10/2023

Le bouquet du 2022 de la Dominique se révèle avec subtilité, par paliers. Il montre des nuances de fruits noirs et de menthe poivrée ainsi qu'une touche de réglisse. Situation plus ou moins similaire en bouche. L'attaque est élancée, juteuse. C'est au niveau tannique que tout se joue puisque les tannins gagnent en ampleur le long du palais. Ils affichent un profil plus fin que d'habitude, peut-être mieux cerné qu'à l'accoutumé. Il reste à assimiler l'élevage, ce qui sera évidemment fondamental dans ce vin. La matière est là, le tempérament aussi, mais c'est en densité que le vin doit encore gagner. Un vin prometteur, élégant, harmonieux avec une belle intensité fruitée sur la finale.

Bettane & Desseauve

96-97

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/10/2023

Il fait pomerol à l’attaque au niveau de la distinction, suite soyeuse, florale et fraîche se toute en longueur, avec beaucoup de classe en finale.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93-95

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/10/2023

Tasted on multiple occasions, the 2022 Château La Dominique is another brilliant wine from this château, which is located on the northern edge of Saint-Emilion, bordering Pomerol. A blend of 88% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, it sports a vivid ruby/purple hue as well as a great nose of red and black fruits, spring flowers, loamy earth, and baking spices. Ripe, medium to full-bodied, silky, and wonderfully balanced, this seamless, elegant 2022 will round into form with just 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 20-25 years.

Vinous

93-95

byAntonio Gallonithe5/9/2023

The 2022 La Dominique is stellar. Rich, deep and beautifully layered, the 2022 impresses with its fine balance. Succulent red/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, rose petal and mocha all take shape in the glass. All the elements come together beautifully in a polished, notable La Dominique. Tasted two times. Drinking window : 2028-2047

The Wine Independent

91-93

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/8/2023

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2022 La Dominique needs a swirl or two to unlock notes of juicy blueberries, blackberry pie, and kirsch, giving way to underlying wafts of pencil shavings and tar. The full-bodied palate is plush and juicy, with bags of expressive black and blue fruits, finishing with a red berry lift. The blend this year is 88% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96

byJeff Levethe5/5/2023

Flowers, black cherries, black raspberries, wet earth, forest herbs, and a touch of crushed stone opens the aromatics. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, silky, fresh, and more importantly, the fruits express purity. The wine has lift, vivacity, spices and dark chocolate that accents the fruits. Not the most concentrated wine of the vintage, instead you find elegance, length and precision. The wine blends 88% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. 15% ABV, 3.7 pH. The wine is aged in 50% new, French oak, and 10% amphora. Drink from 2026-2045.

Wine Advocate

90-92

byWilliam Kelleythe5/2/2023

A rich, heady wine, the 2022 La Dominique offers up aromas of sweet cherries, baked berries and plum liqueur mingled with notions of licorice and melted asphalt. Medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, with a rich core of sweet, somewhat jammy fruit but reasonably lively underlying acids, it's framed by plenty of powdery tannin. I had entertained higher hopes for La Dominique this year, but perhaps the pace of ripening was just too rapid for the estate's technical team.

Jancis Robinson

17

byJancis Robinsonthe4/20/2023

Dense, fresh and spicy. Tannins rounded and refined. Lovely texture with freshness as well. Clean and poised with length on the finish. Well-judged extraction. One of the best from this estate for a while. 17+

Jamessuckling.com

95-96

byJames Sucklingthe4/19/2023

Lovely fruit here with black berry, redcurrants and tile aromas and flavors. Medium- to full-bodied, very well integrated tannins and a lightly chewy finish, showing the potential of the vintage.