2004 & 2012 Le Dôme, St-Emilion & Aloft Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting Lot

“The flagship single-vineyard wine from the range of wines made by Jonathan Maltus in Saint-Emilion, this is 70% Cabernet Franc, a great testimony to the quality of the grape in one of its home territories. This 2004 has much of the usual power of this wine, with its great spice and dried fruit flavors, underlined with wood. But, being 2004, it also has a great lift and vitality that stops its power being overwhelming.” (06/2007)

“A fragrant, ethereal-styled, dark ruby/purple-tinged effort, Le Dome’s 2004 offers a precise, pure nose of menthol, cranberries, raspberries, and cherries. This medium-bodied St.-Emilion, which obviously includes considerable Cabernet Franc in the blend, exhibits good ripeness, striking elegance, and potential complexity as well as purity. Although there is not a great deal of depth, it is a suave 2004 that should shed its tannin in 2-3 years, and drink well over the following 12-15. (RP)” (04/2005)

“Red-ruby. Cherry, spices, violet, minerals and mocha on the nose. Densely packed, broad and dry, but with a distinctly juicy quality to the cherry and chocolate flavors. Finishes quite firm, with substantial dusty tannins. Plenty of extract here. This wine was taken to a higher level with this vintage. (ST)” (05/2007)

“The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is gorgeous, a flamboyant and dramatic wine with terrific fruit intensity (blackberry, cassis and blueberry), subtle background vanilla and toast, a hint of lead pencil shavings and floral underpinnings. Long, rich savory and layered, this is a fabulous Cabernet to drink over the next 20-25 years. (RP)” (10/2016)