Le Dome, St Emilion Grand Cru, 2004
A typically high percentage of Cabernet Franc (75%) the rest made up of Merlot. Harvested before the rains on 12th October, this boasts a garnet, glinting ruby and purple colour, with a very dark core. An unbelievably complex nose that begins beautiful restrained and builds remarkably to many layers: finely perfumed, jammy fruit; creamy chocolate; minerals; cigar box and a hint of oak; delicate spices and roasting meat. High alcohol on entry, quite big structure. Delicate beginning, elegant continuation, superb balance, great depth, elegant fruit, continuing impressively. This wine is outstanding.
critic reviews
Red-ruby. Cherry, spices, violet, minerals and mocha on the nose. Densely packed, broad and dry, but with a distinctly juicy quality to the cherry and chocolate flavors. Finishes quite firm, with substantial dusty tannins. Plenty of extract here. This wine was taken to a higher level with this vintage.
A fragrant, ethereal-styled, dark ruby/purple-tinged effort, Le Domes 2004 offers a precise, pure nose of menthol, cranberries, raspberries, and cherries. This medium-bodied St.-Emilion, which obviously includes considerable Cabernet Franc in the blend, exhibits good ripeness, striking elegance, and potential complexity as well as purity. Although there is not a great deal of depth, it is a suave 2004 that should shed its tannin in 2-3 years, and drink well over the following 12-15.