Le Dôme, Exclusive Barrel, 2016
Le Dôme, Exclusive Barrel, 2016
- 75cl
- 14.5%
- Red Still
- Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
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Optimal drinking window: Now - 2052
Est. delivery in 2027
Our old friend Jonathan Maltus has opened up his cellar, giving us exclusive access to 180 bottles of 2016 Le Dôme, the estate's greatest ever vintage.
Moreover, we've worked with Jonathan to build some extraordinary experiences around this offer, including Syndicate Shares which include personalised labels, a tour and tasting at the Norman Foster-designed Le Dôme winery, dinner + overnight stay at Château Teyssier, and an invitation to the Château Méaume Classic Car Rally.
Le Dôme 2016 — Single Case
£475 in bond per case (1x3 75cl)
£950 in bond per case (1x6 75cl)
Le Dôme 2016 — 12 bottles or more
£1,900 in bond per two cases (minimum 2x6, or 4x3 75cl)
• Personalised labels
• Invitation with a +1 to a tasting on the terrace at Flood Street, Chelsea (Sept. 2026)
Le Dôme 2016 — Syndicate Share, 24 bottles
£3,800 in bond per share (4x6, or 8x3 75cl)
• Four shares available
• Personalised labels
• Tour, tasting and tapas lunch at Le Dôme winery with a +1 Dinner and overnight stay at Château Teyssier (Sept. 2027)
• Invitation to join the Château Méaume Classic Car Rally
Le Dôme's vineyard sits on Saint-Émilion's famed blue clay plateau, the same geological foundation that underlies Cheval Blanc and other Right Bank legends. This dense clay retains moisture through dry spells whilst forcing vines to dig deep, concentrating flavours and adding mineral complexity. The slightly elevated position provides excellent drainage and exposure, creating ideal conditions for Cabernet Franc to ripen fully whilst maintaining its characteristic freshness and spice.
Saint-Émilion represents the heart of Bordeaux's Right Bank, where Merlot and Cabernet Franc dominate over the Cabernet Sauvignon blends of the Médoc. The appellation's diverse terroir ranges from limestone plateau to gravel slopes, but the blue clay sectors produce some of the most structured, age-worthy wines in all of Bordeaux. Whilst neighbouring Pomerol focuses on seductive charm, Saint-Émilion emphasises power and longevity, with the greatest estates crafting wines that can age gracefully for decades.
The 2016 growing season in Bordeaux handed growers a masterclass in patience and precision. A sodden spring delayed flowering, then summer heat arrived just when the vines needed it most, followed by crucial September sunshine that allowed unhurried ripening. The Merlot on the Right Bank reached beautiful concentration, while the Cabernet Sauvignon across the Gironde had time to develop the structure that makes this vintage so compelling.
What emerged was a vintage of remarkable poise—wines with serious backbone but without the austerity that can make young Bordeaux forbidding. The tannins have grip without being harsh, the fruit has depth without being jammy, and there's an energy running through these wines that keeps them lively rather than ponderous. Most 2016s are drinking superbly now, showing their character whilst retaining plenty in reserve, and the better examples will reward cellaring until 2035 or beyond.
What the critics say:
"This 80% Cabernet Franc wine may be massive, but it is also perfumed with swathes of opulent black fruit. It comes from a great year for Cabernet Franc. Juicy acidity gives the wine a velvet character that is enticing."
"The 2016 Le Dome is a brilliant, brilliant wine that does everything right. Incredibly layered and complex, with full body, building, ultra-fine tannins, a multi-dimensional texture, and a monster finish, it's unquestionably one of the most flamboyant, sexy, opulent wines in the vintage yet stays ethereal, elegant, and weightless."
"Full bodied — the palate is positively electric with energy — it gives layer upon layer of perfumed black raspberries and mineral sparks, framed by super ripe, firm, finely grained tannins and bags of freshness, finishing very long and very fragrant."
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