2014 Le Dome
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Tasting notes
Vivid ruby, edges of grilled caramel and rich brambled fruits, muscular, as I very much remember during En Primeur, but on the precipice of softening. As it opens, you get waves of campfire, grilled damson, plenty of kick, well controlled and far less overpowering than I felt in the early years. These are wines that have heightened emotion, heightened extraction, heightened glamour, and need time to soften, unless you are really looking for a jolt of power. Neil Whyte winemaker, Jonathan Maltus owner. 80% new oak for ageing, malolactic in new oak.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 2014 Le Dôme has a savory nose, melted red fruit mixed with iron filings and orange rind, maybe just missing the delineation and charm of Les Asteries. The palate is medium-bodied with soft tannins, fleshy on the entry. It lacks acidity and fades, becoming a little monotone on the finish. It starts well; however, the ending doesn't tempt you back. It's gone downhill since I last tasted it four years earlier. Tasted non-blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.
The 2014 Le Dôme has a smooth red cherry, raspberry and crushed strawberry bouquet, just a hint of Asian spice, the oak nicely integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red berry fruit, lightly spiced with fine tannin and a harmonious, quite persistent finish. This is a very commendable, quite delicious Le Dôme from Jonathan Maltus. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
Tasted blind. Pale rim. Light, simple, fruity nose. Incredibly simple! By no means nasty but just fruit juice really. (JR)
About the producer
The man behind highly regarded Saint-Émilion wine Le Dôme is a Nigerian-born Brit who sold his engineering firm in 1992 to move to Cahors and restore a pile of ruins. After meeting a local vineyard owner at a dinner party, he ended up selling his production to Oddbins and was caught by the wine bug.