2010 Le Dome
Buying options
Tasting notes
Clearly more evolved and surprisingly tired compared to the last time I had it, the 2010 Le Dome offers darker currants, orange blossom, and chocolaty nuances, with a kiss of background menthol. This carries to a full-bodied Saint-Emilion with a round, plush mouthfeel, firmer tannins, and juicy acidity. The overall balance here is questionable, and given the seemingly downward trajectory of this wine (I rated it 99 points in 2018 and had many stunning bottles prior), I would recommend drinking up. Drink 2025-2035.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Spiced black chocoloate and red pepper on the opening, heading to a punch of espresso, fennel, mint leaf, chewy sweet red liquorice, cassis, bilberry, mandarin, edges of fig and dried fruit on the finish. Sinewy, characterful, extremely concentrated and intense, I would give this a long carafe. Impressive, a little more joy to be found with the 2009. Neil Whyte winemaker, Jonathan Maltus owner. 80% new oak for ageing, malolactic in new oak.
The 2010 Le Dome is a blend of 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot. Deep garnet colored, it opens with notions of kirsch, baked raspberries and mulberries with touches of oolong tea, cigar boxes and dried herbs. Full-bodied, it has firm, chewy tannins and a lively line defining the evolving dried berries and earthy layers, finishing on a stewed tea note. Already mature, drink it over the next 15-18 years.
Tasted blind. Deep browning garnet. Fragrant with mature fruit and undergrowth and smells rich, too. And spicy. Generous, full in the mouth, sweet-tasting. Plush but big tannins. Pretty tannic still even with all these mature flavours. (JH)
About the producer
The man behind highly regarded Saint-Émilion wine Le Dôme is a Nigerian-born Brit who sold his engineering firm in 1992 to move to Cahors and restore a pile of ruins. After meeting a local vineyard owner at a dinner party, he ended up selling his production to Oddbins and was caught by the wine bug.