Ch.Le Dome 2014 750ml

Wine Advocate #Interim, Apr 01, 2017 by Neal Martin
The 2014 Le Dôme was tasted directly after its lieutenant, the Vieux Château Mazerat, and to be frank I found that the latter had overtaken the Le Dôme in its slipstream. Sure, the Le Dôme comes replete with attractive black cherry, allspice and black truffle aromas, although I discerned more complexity conferred upon the Vieux Château Mazerat. The palate is medium-bodied with a rounded, generous opening, quite rich and heady as usual, although the acidity keeps a rein on the things. It is a voluminous Le Dôme, but I still uphold that this would have benefited from a shorter cuvaison period.

Still in its infancy, Le Dome was purchased in 1996 by Englishman Jonathan Maltus, who created the vineyard by bringing together parcels located close to Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot, Chateau Canon and Chateau Angelus.

The vineyard is part of the much larger Chateau Teyssier, which heads up a range of other wines – namely super cuvees – including Chateau Laforge, Le Carre, Les Asteries and Vieux Chateau Mazerat. At a very small 3.5 hectares, Le Dome is without its own cellars or chateau (and is made at the larger Chateau Teyssier itself), which is why the label lacks an official classification – although most agree the wine is at minimum a Grand Cru Classe.

The vineyard utilises one of the highest concentrations of Cabernet Franc in the Right Bank, 75%, and is planted with these vines at least 60 years old. The wine was originally produced according to ‘garagiste’ principles but has since outgrown the movement to become a highly-regarded – and difficult to obtain – wine in its own right.

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