In another era, La Dominique might have been accused of being new wave big fruit, but nowadays its considered middle of the pack style wise. I’ve had this 2000 La Dominique [St Emilion] since release and opened it when it was mentioned in the big thread on Old World cellar candidates. It remains a fine example of a mature right bank Bordeaux, but I do think it needs to be consumed. The rims are bricking and it tails off a bit on the second day. The bouquet has tobacco/smoke/mesquite at first, and then segues into a medium weight, 13% abv, rhubarb, thyme, and cranberry red fruit profile. Tannins are resolved, and there’s lot of sediment caked in the bottle. The 2000 doesn’t feel as fat as years like 1990; I enjoyed many of their wines in the 80’s and 90’s but have not purchased/tasted recent vintages but I assume they would age similarly, perhaps adjusting for higher degree days now. I should have opened this before age 25, perhaps age 15 would have been better as the acidity is starting to gain the upper hand over the fruit now. Still, enjoyable, and I’d give this a B+ on my scorecard today.
I’d assume this would have survived Alfert’s cruel cellar culling, but in a different era this might have been denounced for its heretical richness when young.