Le Dome is from the JCP Maltus portfolio of skillfully crafted Saint-Émilion wines. Neil White is the head winemaker and Thomas Duclos is a consultant here. The 2018 Le Dome is composed of 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot, with a 3.82 pH and 14.3% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple colored, it is a little coy in the beginning, requiring considerable coaxing to allow fragrant earth, rose hip tea, preserved plums and raspberry pie notions to emerge, giving way to notes of pencil shavings, woodsmoke and camphor. Full-bodied, firm and finely grained, the profound palate is sparked by energetic mineral and red fruit notes, framed by firm, fine-grained tannins and just enough acidity to lift the very long, very fragrant finish. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, April 2019, The Wine Advocate

This is buttoned down and pretty closed right now, with a reductive edge that clears in the glass. There's a ton of freshness here, alongside the slow moving power of the tannins and well knitted fruits. An accomplished, well made wine, although it's a little overbearing with its marzipan and bitter chocolate notes on the finish. This is made in the Pavie style rather than the Ausone style, that's for sure. 80% new oak for malo and maturation. 3.82pH. - www.decanter.com, Jane Anson, April 2019

Notes of red and black currants, graphite, tobacco, and espresso all emerge from the 2018 Le Dôme, which is a blend of 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot, aging in 80% new oak, coming from a site to the west of Angélus. Rich and full-bodied, with beautiful building tannins, it fills the mouth with fruit and is an opulent yet flawlessly balanced 2018 that makes the most of this great vintage. Do your best to keep your hands off bottles for at least 4-5 years. This beauty clocks in at 14.3% alcohol with a pH of 3.82. - jebdunnuck.com, May 2019

Big and juicy red here with a full body, dense and intense fruit and a long and flavorful finish. A little old-school, but impressive. - jamessuckling.com, April 2019