Le Dôme
About Le Dôme
Known as the benchmark estate of Jonathan Maltus, one of Bordeaux’s most successful winemakers, Le Dôme is situated on the Right Bank, just like all the other estates owned by Maltus. What is unique about Le Dôme is the high proportion of Cabernet Franc used. Its modest 3.5-hectare vineyard, located near Château Beau-Sejour Becot, Château Canon and Château Angélus, is planted to 80% Cabernet Franc, with the remaining 20% comprising of old Merlot vines planted in the 1950s. Those who have had the fortune to try the wines of Le Dôme would immediately note the concentration, achieved through three green harvests a year and further pruning to allow only 4 bunches of grapes per vine! Needless to say, wines of Le Dôme are not easy to come by.
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Wine Advocate (99)
One of the most distinctive wines made in Bordeaux, Le Dome has one of the highest percentages of Cabernet Franc of any claret I can think of. Composed of 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot, it exhibits a certain delicacy and elegance (due to the Cabernet Franc component) in addition to resounding power, concentration, depth and multidimensional personality. Black/purple to the rim, it offers strikingly intense notes of spring flowers, raspberries, mulberries and wood smoke, medium to full body, sweet tannin and a cunning intensity and texture that suggest finesse and delicacy. However, the wine’s richness, length and lingering depth build incrementally in this exceptional St.-Emilion. It will be drinkable in 4-5 years and should age for two decades or more. This is Jonathan Malthus’ finest wine to date.HK$11,595.00 -
Wine Advocate (98+)
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.HK$7,525.00 -
Wine Enthusiast (100)
This 80% Cabernet Franc wine may be massive, but it is also perfumed with swathes of opulent black fruit. It comes from a great year for Cabernet Franc, which forms 75% of this vineyard. Juicy acidity gives the wine a velvet character that is enticing. It needs time, so wait to drink from 2026.HK$8,990.00 -
Wine Advocate (97-99)
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.HK$6,935.00 -
Wine Enthusiast (97-99)
This magnificently situated parcel of old-vine Cabernet Franc continues to impress. It is intensely perfumed in smoky black fruits, displaying a dark, tight structure that leads through to finely textured tannins. The wine's acidity and succulent ripeness come through strongly. This is for long-term aging.HK$7,085.00 -
(6x75cl) 2023
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94-97)
The 2023 Le Dôme, Jonathan Maltus's Cabernet Franc-based Saint-Émilion, is superb. In 2023, Le Dôme has a ton of everything, namely fruit and supporting structure. A blast of plum, blackberry, chocolate, leather, licorice, cloves and dried herbs explodes onto the palate. This potent, brooding Saint-Émilion has so much to offer for fans of large-scaled wines. Cabernet Franc is dialed up to eleven here.HK$8,546 - HK$10,148