Le Dôme St Emilion Grand Cru 2022

This is a big wine in a vintage that needed no extra pushing (a full 2% higher alcohol than the 2021). Pretty much the most intense colour and texture of the vertical, with a nose you can chew through. Cloves, cinnamon, tar, grilled sandalwood. The billow of violet flowers from fully ripe Cabernet Franc is extremely welcome, and there is juiciness on the finish, alongside this muscular swagger. Great stuff, but as I said during En Primeur, I can’t help but wonder how good this would be if they scaled things back a little? Fruit from the former site of Les Asteries included in here. Harvest September 14 to 28. 80% new oak for ageing, Thomas Duclos consultant, Neil Whyte winemaker. Second year in the new Norman Foster winery.