2018 Le Dome, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 12x750ml

Vinous 94

The 2018 Le Dôme remains very tight and backward on the nose. Left to open for several hours, it manifests blackberry, briar and iris, then mint and menthol aromas join the chorus line. But it is all very tightly packed at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with a ripe entry, quite plush and dense, touches of graphite infusing the black fruit and then finally opening up toward a more expressive finish. As I mentioned before, this is a Le Dôme that demands bottle age – several years, preferably. [Neal Martin, 03/08/2021]

Anticipated maturity: 2023-2040

Robert Parker 98

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, 04/15/2019]