Le Dome, St Emilion Grand Cru,

A unique and well established ‘micro terre’ (rather than micro winery) that produced its first vintage in 1996. Le Dôme is a tiny 1.63 hectare vineyard planted with fifty year old vines situated between Château L’Angélus and Grande Mayne. Owner, Jonathan Maltus, insists on two green harvests during the growing season to restrict yields to an absolute minimum so that his Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes reach optimum levels of ripeness and concentration. The minute size of land to work requires only a small team of harvesters and allows picking to take place every year at exactly the right time - the 1998, for example, was harvested within two afternoons. Over the years, Jonathan has increased the percentage of Cabernet Franc in the blend and decreased the use of new oak. Since 2008, there has typically been a maximum of 80% new oak and the style has become more precise and the wines display a greater sense of elegance. Le Dôme has never been short of critical acclaim, but even die hard fans must have been slightly surprised when the 2010 received 100 points from Robert Parker in February 2013. This is an unbelievable achievement for a relative newcomer to this historic region. Le Dôme has been one of the most consistent and best performing wines from St Emilion over the last two decades. As with Cheval Blanc, old vines Cabernet Franc usually forms the basis of the final blend with less than 25% Merlot fleshing out the wonderful currant, cedar and herb flavours. Unfortunately quantities are very limited, as annual production barely exceeds 900 cases.