2015 Le Dome, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Composed of 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Le Dome has a drop dead gorgeous perfume of violets, black forest cake, rose hip and red jelly with touches of lavender, spice cake and earth. The palate is medium to full-bodied and super intense with super ripe, super fine-grained tannins, wonderful freshness and a very long perfumed, mineral-laced finish.

What could be considered the flagship wine of the estate (although most wines are single vineyards raised identically), the 2015 Le Dome is the normal blend of 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot that's from a parcel located down on the slopes of the Saint Emilion plateau. This beauty boasts a deep, saturated purple color to go with a huge, exotic notes of blueberry and cassis fruit intermixed with notions of crushed flowers, mint, violets, and cassis, crushed flowers, violets, and hints of earth. With full-bodied richness, phenomenal purity of fruit, and a sexy, seductive texture, it's another knockout wine from this estate. Drink it any time over the coming 10-15 years.

Jonathan Maltus' 2015 Le Dôme is so much more expressive from bottle than it was from barrel. Packed and intense to the core, the 2015 speaks with a confident tone. Black cherry, chocolate, torrefaction, leather, rose petal and exotic spice pulse with energy in this vibrant, super-polished Cabernet Franc–driven Saint-Émilion. Le Dôme is the most vibrant and complex wine in this superb range from Maltus. The blend is 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot. vinous.com, February 2018

Very suave and attractively cast aromas of violets, blueberries, plums and dark chocolate with spicy, cedary notes and slate-like nuances. The palate’s velvety, fleshy and smooth with dark berries, chocolate and roasted-coffee flavors set in ribbon-like, silky tannins. Try from 2022.

The 2015 Le Dome has a very attractive bouquet, the purest and most sophisticated from Jonathan Maltus, ebullient blueberry and bilberry jam, bunches of violets and a splash of Indian ink. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannin, spicy with a healthy dash of black pepper, very focused with a vibrant and lively finish. Jonathan Maltus believes this might be better than 2010...he has a point.

This is packed with lots of raspberry, cherry and boysenberry paste notes pushed by warm fruitcake and licorice. Integrated despite its heft, with a coating of sweet spice on the finish providing a nicely polished feel.

Mid crimson. Bloody flavours and with round satin tannins. Quite a statement! Just a bit thicker than perfection. I wonder how this will age? Dangerous!?
Drink 2024-2034