| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Le Dôme Le Dôme
From the famous flagship estate of Jonathan Malthus, this wine normally has about 75% or more Cabernet Franc in the blend and the rest Merlot. With the great aromatic expression of the vintage, the 2005 Le Dôme offers up a smashing fireworks-like display of spring flowers, blueberries, forest floor, raspberries and cherries. Dense purple in color, medium to full-bodied, light on its feet, but super-intense and rich, this wine performed fabulously well, and is one of the superstars and profound efforts of the vintage. It is actually somewhat approachable, which is not always the case with many 2005s. Drink it over the next 20 years. Drink 2015-2035.
The tenth anniversary of Jonathan Maltus self-confessed garagiste superstar and very fine it is too. A beautifully Cabernet Franc dominated nose: blackberry and a touch of fig and burnt toast. The palate is very well-balanced, high extraction but not over-powering and no astringency like some other Saint Emilions. Maintains both finesse and power. Clams up towards the finish. Pure and very seductive.
Tasted blind. Nuanced blackish ruby. Pungent, dramatic nose. Sweet start. Not very wine-y. Tastes more like elderberry juice plus alcohol. Dusty tannins and severity on the end. Ungainly. 14%
Drink 2016-2025
Bright ruby-red. Superripe aromas of black raspberry, plum, licorice and beefsteak tomato, with cooler notes of menthol and violet in the background. Large-scaled, rich and very ripe, with sweet, inviting flavors of plum, mocha, caramel and tobacco framed by harmonious acidity. Finishes with powerful but ripe tannins and excellent length. This is impressive but appears to be in a somewhat sullen stage; on this day, I found it a bit less bright and gripping than the bottle of Les Asteries I tasted alongside it. But this needs some patience.
Velvety black-red, very fragrant, stunning concentration on the nose, quite massive at first, then showing great sophistication and purity from 50-year-old vineyard fruit, very good indeed. Drink 2009-20
A Cheval Blanc look-alike, this cuvee (which includes a high percentage of Cabernet Franc) boasts an ethereal nose of raspberries, menthol, spring flowers, and hints of cedar as well as new oak. Full-bodied, exceptionally fresh, and noble, this is a complex, classic, distinctive wine that should drink well in 3-4 years, and last for two decades. It is the finest Le Dome yet made, but sadly, there are only 1,000 cases.
Aromatically speaking, this is one of the most complex wines of St.-Emilion. The 2005 exhibits notes of blueberries, raspberries, menthol, and graphite along with terrific fruit, medium body, superb palate penetration, good acidity, ripe tannin, and a surreal lightness. Boasting undeniable nobility as well as class, considerable Cabernet Franc in the blend provides a distinctive personality. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020?.
With a 1,000-case production, this does not qualify as a garage wine any longer, but it is the only Bordeaux I know of that contains a whopping 75% Cabernet Franc in the blend. Proprietor Jonathan Malthus told me that some of the Merlot came in at 15% alcohol, with the Cabernet Franc averaging 14%. You would never know that when tasting this wine because of its extraordinarily fresh acidity and vibrancy. Possessing an ethereal texture as well as terrific fruit purity and richness, medium to full body, and stunning persistence, it is a harmonious, complex effort with Cheval Blanc-like complexity and finesse. However, there is no shortage of power or concentration. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025.
Licorice and blackberry with hints of tar. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins. Long finish. Big and juicy. Almost classic quality.
Quite dark. Sweet nose - even a little animal/bretty. Sweet maraschino cherries - not classic at all and not for me, but some palates might love this! Certainly flashy.
Very dark and healthy colour. Quite meaty. Full and broad and spicy and meaty. Rich and full and intense. Very thick. Planted just after the 1956 frost. Relatively dense. Very slightly furry. From the Ch Teyssier team. Drink 2014-25
