Le Dôme is one of the most distinctive modern wines of Saint-Émilion, produced from a small vineyard on the limestone plateau just below Château Angélus. The wine is unusual for the appellation because it is dominated by Cabernet Franc, with Merlot playing a supporting role, giving it a more aromatic and structured profile than many Right Bank wines.

The estate was created in the 1990s by our friend Jonathan Maltus, one of the pioneers of the so-called “garage wine” movement in Bordeaux. Production is small, with fruit coming from a tiny parcel planted on clay-limestone soils, and the winemaking focuses on careful extraction and ageing in French oak.

The 2016 vintage in Bordeaux is widely regarded as one of the finest of the modern era. A long, dry summer followed by ideal harvest conditions produced grapes with excellent concentration, ripe tannins and vibrant acidity.