2016 Le Dome
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Tasting notes
The chewy frame really does take some time to climb, thoroughly suggest giving this either a few more years in bottle or a long carafe. There is gorgeous fresh mint and eucalyptus in the centre, surrounding the muscular and rippling tannins, and this is a physical wine that pulls you upwards with its acidity, but struggles to escape the heat of the vintage. Don't expect the delicate, fragrant Cabernet Franc of great Loire - think instead luscious chocolate-enrobed violet flowers, with damson, black cherry and blueberry fruits. Neil Whyte winemaker, Jonathan Maltus owner. 80% new oak for ageing, malolactic in new oak.
Critic scores
Average Score
Wine Enthusiast
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Le Dôme has a delightful, perfumed bouquet of dried-blood-tinged red fruit and wilted rose petals, gaining harmony all the time in the glass. So far, so good. However, the palate evidenced some oxidation. Two bottles were opened and both showed similar traits. I'll reserve judgment for now and seek to re-taste. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
The 2016 Le Dôme has an open, quite mature bouquet with touches of cooked meat infusing the ferrous red fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, quite savoury in style with good acidity and an almost Burgundy-like finish. Sedate and pretty, but not as long-term as its peers. A very commendable Le Dôme and yet not my definition of a "perfect" wine. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal.
Tasted blind. Flatteringly rich nose with a really voluptuous texture but it could do with just a little more freshness. A bit overdone. And then it oxidised in the glass. Drink immediately! (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.