Ch.Le Dome 2006 750ml

Wine Advocate #Interim, May 30, 2016 by Neal Martin
Tasted at the château, the 2006 Le Dôme has retained an attractive bouquet with crushed violet and cold limestone scents percolating through the blackberry and boysenberry fruit. The palate is fresh on the entry with slightly coarse tannin, mulberry, red plum and Seville orange marmalade here, moderate depth with just a slightly abrupt, muscular finish. It has aged better than Les Asteries and I would be inclined to drink this over the next 5-7 years.

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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