The 2000 La Dominique is a wine that I thoroughly enjoyed out of barrel but never tasted in bottle. It still has a deep colour with little ageing on the rim. The bouquet is refined and focused, almost broody dark fruits that gradually unfurl, blackberry, briary, a touch of menthol and 5-spice. The palate is medium-bodied with supple red and black fruit laced with white pepper and just a touch of dried blood. There is a little meatiness towards the (again) Pomerol-inspired finish, but the finesse and precision here surpasses all the preceding vintages. There is also a subtle note of liquorice on the aftertaste. Excellent. Tasted at the vertical tasting at La Dominique. -- Neal Martin