2010 Le Dôme, St-Emilion (Pre-Arrival)

SKU #1124758 100 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

A full-bodied wine, but ethereal in its elegance and finesse, the wine has a strikingly provocative bouquet of camphor, blueberry jam, violets, new saddle leather, white chocolate and spice. Extremely full-bodied, but again, not showing any weighty fatigue or any type of aggressiveness, this wine has extraordinary purity and richness as well as a blockbuster finish of close to a minute, yet is so flawless, seamless and compelling, it’s hard to believe the wine is this concentrated and rich. It will be interesting to see how it evolves, but it certainly can be drunk in 3-4 years and, I’m sure, cellared for as long as 25-35 years from now. There are 1,000 cases of this wine, which has one of the highest percentages of Cabernet Franc of any wine in Bordeaux (80%). The balance is Merlot. The 2009 from Le Dome flirted with perfection, but this wine swallows the entire scoring system, and rightfully so. (2/ 2013)

95 points Wine Enthusiast

This is a perfumed wine, dominated by Cabernet Franc. Black fruits are layered with wood, dry tannins and a beautiful aromatic quality. The wine is deep and complex, built for the long term with its power, density and considerable elegance. (3/ 2013)

93 points James Suckling

A juicy and savory wine with tobacco, forest floor and chocolate character. Roses too. Lots of red fruits. Full body, with velvety tannins and a long finish. Better after 2017. (2/ 2013)

90-93 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

(an 80/20 blend of cabernet franc and merlot; 3.8 pH; 14.6% alcohol) Deep ruby. Brooding aromas of strawberry, dark chocolate, mint and smoky oak, plus a hint of volatile acidity that adds lift. Rich and sweet on entry, then increasingly austere toward the back, finishing pure and long, with captivating cabernet franc red fruit and floral notes. This wine will need time to resolve its serious tannins. Le Dome's vines are located immediately to the west of Angelus. Owner Jonathan Maltus thinks it's the best Le Dome he's made yet, and he may be right. I liked its steely purity, but it's quite tannic today and lacking in generosity. (5/ 2011)

93 points Wine Spectator

A burly, extracted style, with lots of roasted apple wood and mesquite flavors leading the way, followed by briary grip and slightly chewy plum, blackberry and black currant fruit flavors. Shows more heft than cut and drive, featuring scads of tobacco, ganache and loam on the finish. If cellaring can tame the chewy edges, this will become an impressive, modern-styled wine down the road. Best from 2016 through 2030 (3/ 2013)