Château La Dominique

History of Château La Dominique  

Château La Dominique takes its name from a Caribbean island, a nod to the history of its first owner, a wealthy merchant who made his fortune in the West Indies. Since the 18th century, this property has managed to endure through the ages while preserving its authenticity. 

Acquired by Clément Fayat in 1969, the estate underwent a major transformation. A visionary entrepreneur, Clément Fayat invested in modernising the infrastructure, drainage of the soils, and the expansion of the vineyard. The collaboration with experts such as oenologist Michel Rolland and, more recently, consultant Jean-Luc Thunevin, has enabled the estate to reach the heights of quality. 

In 2013, the Château inaugurated a spectacular winery designed by architect Jean Nouvel. This avant-garde building, with its gleaming red facades, has since become a symbol of modernity in the service of viticultural excellence.

Terroirs and Vines of Château La Dominique  

The vineyard of Château La Dominique extends over 29 hectares, ideally situated in the north-west of the Saint-Émilion appellation, on the border with Pomerol. This strategic position allows the estate to benefit from an exceptionally varied terroir, a true mosaic of soils.  

To the north, the clay-gravel plateaux typical of Pomerol promote the ripening of late-ripening grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, while contributing concentration and density to the wines.  

To the south, the clay-limestone subsoils of Saint-Émilion and the famous blue clays impart a unique tension, finesse, and minerality to the Merlots and Cabernet Francs.  

The vineyard is composed of 81% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. These proportions are gradually evolving, as the estate aims to increase the share of Cabernet Franc to gain in elegance and tension.  

The attention given to viticulture is exemplary: natural grass cover, high planting density (7,000 to 9,000 vines per hectare), manual harvesting, and agroforestry practices promoting biodiversity. Since 2006, a massal selection has been implemented for replanting, ensuring optimal grape quality.

Winemaking at Château La Dominique  

The winemaking process at Château La Dominique is a skilful blend of tradition and innovation. Each step is designed to enhance the characteristics of the terroir and preserve the purity of the fruit.  

Harvest and sorting  

The harvest is carried out manually to ensure a rigorous selection of the grape clusters. The grapes are then sorted twice, upon reception and on the sorting table, before being entirely destemmed.  

Fermentation and maceration  

Fermentations take place in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, allowing perfect control of temperatures. The macerations, lasting 25 to 35 days, gently extract the aromas and tannins.  

Ageing  

The ageing, which lasts 16 to 18 months, takes place in oak barrels (50 to 70% new), with regular racking and lees stirring. The estate also experiments with ageing in amphorae to achieve greater precision and purity.  

Finishing  

An egg-white fining is carried out before bottling to refine the wines, which are then stored in optimal conditions until their release.

The Cuvées of Château La Dominique  

Château La Dominique offers several cuvées that illustrate the diversity and excellence of its expertise.  

Château La Dominique - Grand Cru Classé

A blend predominantly based on Merlot, complemented by Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.  

Round, rich, and complex wines, with notes of black fruit, mocha, and truffle, with silky tannins and a beautiful length on the palate.  

Relais de La Dominique - Second wine

Predominantly Merlot.  

An approachable, fresh, and fruity wine, perfect for more immediate enjoyment.  

Saint-Paul-de-Dominique  

A blend similar to that of the Fine Wine.  

A cuvée with generous aromas and a balanced structure, ideal for discovering the estate's style.  

Saint-Émilion, jewel of the Bordeaux wine region, has produced over the years vintages of exceptional quality, delighting lovers of great wines. Among the legendary vintages, one can cite 1947, 1959, and 1961, true icons that have marked the history of Bordeaux wines. The famous 1982 also remains an undisputed reference. The following decades were no exception, with remarkable vintages such as 1990, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2005, all acclaimed for their richness and ageing potential. More recently, the vintages 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020 have shone for their balance and depth, reaffirming Saint-Émilion's reputation as one of Bordeaux's most sought-after appellations, where each new year continues to captivate lovers of great wines with its consistent quality and elegance.

The classification of Premiers Grands Crus Classés B of Saint-Émilion, revised every 10 years, shines a light on the exceptional châteaux of the Right Bank vineyard. Among those that continue to feature in this prestigious category, one finds iconic names such as Château Beau-Séjour Bécot, Château Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau Lagarrosse, Château Bélair-Monange, Château Canon, Château Pavie-Macquin, Château Troplong-Mondot, Château Trottevieille, and Clos Fourtet. Others, promoted in 2012, such as Château Canon-La-Gaffelière, Château Larcis-Ducasse, Château La Mondotte, and Château Valandraud, also illustrate the ever-rising quality of the region's wines. On the other hand, certain châteaux are no longer classified, such as La Gaffelière (since 2022) and Magdelaine (since 2006). This constant renewal guarantees the excellence and evolution of the Saint-Émilion vineyard, where tradition and innovation harmoniously intertwine.

Château La Dominique embodies the viticultural excellence of Saint-Émilion. Thanks to an exceptional terroir, precision winemaking, and constant investment, this estate produces wines that captivate enthusiasts from around the world.  

Discover other estates and châteaux of Bordeaux, such as the great White Bordeaux such as Yquem, the most illustrious of the Sauternes !