Le Dome, St Emilion Grand Cru, 2010
Le Dome needs little introduction. Jonathan Maltus' flagship wine has been going from strength to strength picking up accolades from the top wine critics on both sides of the pond. The cepage has changed slightly with the proportion of Cabernet Franc now up to 80% (the balance being Merlot). The use of new oak is being toned down too, just 80% new oak for the 2010. Again the freshness of the vintage provides real lift and makes the Maltus wines the most stylish we can remember. Deeply intense bouquet of crème de mûre, toasty oak, spice and sweet earth. The palate offers wave after wave of sumptuous fruit; there is wonderful purity here. This is a dense, thick wine, but it has a light-footed quality to it. Complex, balanced and with cashmere tannins, this is a very smart Le Dome.
critic reviews
Spiced black chocoloate and red pepper on the opening, heading to a punch of espresso, fennel, mint leaf, chewy sweet red liquorice, cassis, bilberry, mandarin, edges of fig and dried fruit on the finish. Sinewy, characterful, extremely concentrated and intense, I would give this a long carafe. Impressive, a little more joy to be found with the 2009. Neil Whyte winemaker, Jonathan Maltus owner. 80% new oak for ageing, malolactic in new oak.
Good bright, dark red. Knockout nose combines cassis, plum, violet, dark chocolate, licorice and mint. Pliant, layered and deep, with captivating sweetness to its dark berry and floral flavors. In a distinctly plush, creamy style but the wine's youthfully aggressive finish and serious ripe tannins suggests that it will be better for five to seven years of cellaring. Seriously rich wine with lovely purity and floral lift.