La Dominique St-Emilion 2021

94 points Georgina Hindle (Decanter): "Ripe, fragrant nose, chocolate, cherries and roses. Enjoyably textured, this has energy and focus as well as fruit concentration. Touches of vanilla and cream come in to give smoothness, ending on a softly salty note with liquorice and dark cocoa powder. Juicy, fruity and enjoyable, still with licks of oak so will need time but has ageing potential. Drinking Window: 2025-2040. (11/30/23)"

94 points Zekun Shuai (JamesSuckling.com): "Dark plums, cherries, grilled citrus and a touch of dark earth decadence and mushrooms on the nose. Subtle dark spices, too. Medium to full body on the palate with dusty tannins and a lengthy, intricate finish. Refined and layered. Already complex. Drink or hold. (7/8/24)"

94 points/'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "There is a light touch to this wine, typical of 2021. From a 25-acre vineyard to the northwest of the Saint-Emilion core, it has ripe licorice and pepper aromas and jammy black-fruit flavors from the dominant Merlot. It is a fine wine, full of potential. Drink from 2027. Alcohol 13.5%. (Jul 2024)"

92+ points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "The 2021 La Dominique opens in the glass with notes of minty berries, plums and cherries, framed by a discreet touch of new oak. Medium to full-bodied, suave and polished, with an attractive core of cool, layered fruit, it's framed by powdery tannins that assert themselves on the gently structured finish. While it will show well out of the gates, this will also reward at least a modicum of bottle age. Drink: 2026-2040. (2/8/24)"

92 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2021 Château La Dominique comes from 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 14 months in 50% new French oak. It has a deeper ruby hue as well as gorgeous aromatics of darker currants, truffly earth, ripe herbs, and flowers. More medium-bodied on the palate, it has a supple, layered mouthfeel, ripe, polished, and nicely integrated tannins, and flawless balance. This is a very complete, balanced, seamless, and incredibly complex 2021 that has the density and class to evolve and drink well for two decades. Drink: 2024-2044. (4/3/24)"

92 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon). TPrecise and perky, blueberry and raspberry fruits, well balanced and topped with grilled peppercorn spice and liqourice root. Tasted twice, this is a sculpted and enjoyable 2021. 38hl/h yield, 50% new oak, 10% amphoras and wine globes. Yann Monties technical director. Alcohol 13.5%. Drink: 2026-2040. (12/7/23)"

92 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "Vibrant, elegant, fresh, soft and discreet, this wine is about its refined character, which is on display with its nuances of fresh picked flowers, herbs, soft-textured, energetic, red fruits and herbs. The wine is medium-bodied, energetic with already expresses its core of red fruits and herbs. You can enjoy this with pleasure on release. The wine blends 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2024-2042. (3/9/24)"