Tasting Notes
Vinous 97
It’s been a few years since I tasted the 2005 Le Dome, and it has only improved since then. A magical, thrilling wine, Le Dome is off the charts gorgeous today. Time has softened some of the initial power and density, but there is still plenty of heft, all driven by gorgeous Cabernet Franc aromatics that lend energy, verve and a real sense of vitality. Like all of the wines here, Le Dome is a rich, opulent wine built on texture. At sixteen years of age, it retains plenty of inky dark fruit, while the new oak has integrated beautifully. The 2005 is simply fabulous. It remains one of the very finest and most satisfying wines I have ever tasted from Jonathan Maltus. Oh, and it’s also very clearly one of the wines of the vintage.
Anticipated maturity: 2021-2030
JancisRobinson.com 15.5
Tasted blind. Nuanced blackish ruby. Pungent, dramatic nose. Sweet start. Not very wine-y. Tastes more like elderberry juice plus alcohol. Dusty tannins and severity on the end. Ungainly.
Anticipated maturity: 2016-2025
Robert Parker 96
A Cheval Blanc look-alike, this cuvee (which includes a high percentage of Cabernet Franc) boasts an ethereal nose of raspberries, menthol, spring flowers, and hints of cedar as well as new oak. Full-bodied, exceptionally fresh, and noble, this is a complex, classic, distinctive wine that should drink well in 3-4 years, and last for two decades. It is the finest Le Dome yet made, but sadly, there are only 1,000 cases.
Anticipated maturity: 2011-2028
