2013 Le Dome
By Le Dome
2013 Le Dome from Château Le Dome, Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux
Commanding attention in the sphere of fine wine investment is the 2013 Le Dome from Château Le Dome, a quintessential expression of Saint-Emilion's prowess. Crafted with an artisan's touch, this vintage stands as a testament to the fortitude and adaptability of its terroir amidst challenging climatic conditions.
A Testament of Resilience and Mastery
The year 2013 was marked by a capricious climate in Bordeaux, presenting vintners with trials that culminated in the creation of wines with distinctive characters. In such years, the mettle of both vineyard and vigneron is put to the ultimate test, resulting in a select number of wines that shine with unique splendour—the 2013 Le Dome is emphatically one such triumph.
With its blend heavily favouring Cabernet Franc, complemented by a soupçon of Merlot, the wine exudes elegance and complexity. A serene marriage of dark berry fruits and a whisper of graphite infuses the nose, while those with a penchant for olfactory subtleties may discern a mélange of earthier notes buoyed by hints of cedar; a palate that encapsulates the unpredictability of its vintage year.
The palate continues this narrative—ripe, yet disciplined with tannins that speak more of velvet than muscle. Acidity is well-judged, giving life to flavours amidst a backdrop typical to Saint-Emilion's limestone heart. To savor the 2013 Le Dome is to understand resilience in liquid form.
Crowning Your Cellar: The Investment Angle
In terms of investment potentiality, this vintage of Le Dome is an intellectual collectable; its story interwoven with that of the unpredictable 2013 growing season. Possessing a mien that defies expectations, it offers a prized diversification for portfolios centred on vintages from more celebrated years.
In summary, Leafing through past notes on Château Le Dome's offerings, one recognises that the 2013 vintage bears hallmarks that make it uniquely engaging. It serves as both an oenological exploration and an investment opportunity—one with the latent promise to grace future sipping sessions or auction catalogues with equal aplomb. The 2013 Le Dome reveals what wonders can emerge from the confluence of human tenacity and nature's whims.
Market price (GBP)
£820.00
12x75cl
Highest score
91
POP score
74.55
Scores and tasting notes
The 2013 Le Dôme is a very respectable Saint Emilion from Jonathan Maltus OBE, a wine that I appreciated from barrel and likewise in bottle. It has a crisp, focused bouquet with blackberry, wild hedgerow and subtle orange blossom notes. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannin but they are cloaked in plenty of crisp, almost citrus-fresh fruit. It is still a tad masculine compared to recent vintages, but it will soften up and drink well for the next decade.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 28 October 2016