Château La Dominique, 1981 Red Wine
Saint-Emilion- Grand Cru Classe
Bottle size: 75cl
ABV: 14%
Price:
£69.95
Description
Château La Dominique 1981 – Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé
The 1981 vintage in Saint-Émilion produced wines of finesse and balance rather than power, and Château La Dominique has evolved into a beautifully resolved and elegant mature Bordeaux.
In the glass, it displays a soft garnet core with amber tones at the rim, reflecting its long and graceful ageing. The bouquet is complex and refined, with aromas of dried red fruits, stewed plum, cedar, tobacco leaf, and subtle notes of leather and forest floor.
The palate is fully mature and harmonious, showing silky tannins and a gently rounded structure. Flavours of redcurrant, fig and autumn berries are layered with savoury nuances of mushroom, spice and delicate oak. The acidity remains well judged, giving freshness and poise to the long, elegant finish.
Now at peak maturity, Château La Dominique 1981 is best enjoyed over the near term. It is an excellent match for roast lamb, beef fillet, duck, mushroom-based dishes or mature hard cheeses, where its savoury complexity and gentle structure can be fully appreciated.
Château La Dominique is an estate in Saint-Émilion known for its Merlot-based red wine. It was rated Grand Cru Classé in the official 1955 classification of Saint-Émilion.
Located close to the Pomerol border, the vineyard covers approximately 29 hectares (71 acres). The majority of plantings are Merlot (89 percent) with small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon and an addition of Malbec in 2019. Here, a gentle slope and sandy gravel soils with slighlty more clay than its neighbor Cheval Blanc create the terroir.
In the winery, movement of juice and wine is done gently, powered by gravity to aid the preservation of phenolics. Grapes undergo 12-24 hours of cold maceration, and then vinification takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The grand vin is then aged oak barrels, a majority of which are new for 16 months.
Records for La Dominique date back to 1690, although it was first mentioned as a wine estate with its current name in 1785. The name is derived from Dominica in the Caribbean where the owner made his fortune.
Condition
Good level
Bin soiled and damaged label