Le Dome, St Emilion Grand Cru, 2005

Name: Le Dome, St Emilion Grand Cru
Brand: Le Dôme
Price: 1844.66 GBP

Available Vintages

all 1996 1998 2000 2003 2005 2012 2014 2015 2022

justerini & brooks tasting note

The 2005 Le Dôme is the finest wine yet from this tiny plot of old Cabernet Franc. Continuing a theme of brooding depths of dark fruit that has been set over the last few vintages, the 2005 basks in the glory of the finest vintage that Bordeaux has produced for decades, perhaps even since 1945. The wine shows a very fine nose indeed, with more lush fruit than ever, all elegantly enticing. Seamless on the palate, with an almost endless variety of savoury flavours: black cherry, espresso, sweet dark chocolate, powdery limestone and truffle hints. Firm, supremely smooth oak tannins round off into a long, balanced finish. Sensational wine!

critic reviews

94/100Jane Anson,Inside Bordeaux

The 10th vintage of Le Dôme, and this remains dense, concentrated, intense, almost overwhelmed by fruit and tannins, still at the beginning of its evolution. Grilled sandalwood and cedar oak on the nose, then cocoa bean and espresso before getting to black cherry and damson fruit. Clear quality, a little overwhelming even at 17 years old, although coming back to it after an hour, you start to see the floral side of Cabernet Franc. A ton of estate signature, unquestionably, and evidence of just why this bottling caught the imagination of so many critics. 100% new oak.

DRINKING WINDOW 2022 - 2040

date of review 09/2022

97/100Antonio Galloni,Vinous

It's been a few years since I tasted the 2005 Le Dôme, and it has only improved since then. A magical, thrilling wine, Le Dôme is off the charts gorgeous today. Time has softened some of the initial power and density, but there is still plenty of heft, all driven by gorgeous Cabernet Franc aromatics that lend energy, verve and a real sense of vitality. Like all of the wines here, Le Dôme is a rich, opulent wine built on texture. At sixteen years of age, it retains plenty of inky dark fruit, while the new oak has integrated beautifully. The 2005 is simply fabulous. It remains one of the very finest and most satisfying wines I have ever tasted from Jonathan Maltus. Oh, and it's also very clearly one of the wines of the vintage.

DRINKING WINDOW 2021 - 2030

date of review 04/2021