Le Dome France Saint-Emilion 2021 (13.5% ABV) — 93.7
SF | Dense onyx colour, with high toast aromatics and a velvety bitumen aromatic; bilberry plush; expensive and indulgence before restraint and a sense of place. The floral character is compromised by the persuasive tannins; a master-class in expensive winemaking, careless of the vagaries of a modest vintage, its progeny at the same time incredibly impressive and unerringly anonymous. A most attractive enigma. 92
DW | The first of the Bordeaux flight, and an immediate change of gear and style which is, of course, a consequence of terroir, milieu and the presence of another grape variety in the blend - although here we are talking just a 20% portion of Merlot: either way, we are immediately in a very different but nonetheless beautiful place of luscious depth in which the Cab Franc fragrance still sings in a graphite and floral tone but over a plumper, fatter beat with beautifully rendered cedary oak and a ruffle of velvety tannin.Drink Dates: 2024 - 2038. 94
AR | Good youthful ruby hue, fine fresh yet ripe dark fruit fragrance with oak in the back seat, but an alluring fragrance that invites you in to taste; and when you do, this is a lovely wine, with a delicate sweetness of dark cassis fruit whose density and texture linger for quite some time in the mouth, a tactile experience to be enjoyed thanks to some lovely supple tannins, before the inevitable swallowing, or, in this instance, regrettable spitting. Still young, this look to have a good decade's life ahead of it.Drink Dates: 2024 - 3035. 95