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23/06/2020

En Primeur 2019 New Releases of the Day

by The BI Team
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Le Dome 2019

£595 per case/6

Jonathan Maltus’ flagship St-Emilion, Le Dome, became synonymous with Bordeaux’s boundary-pushing garagiste movement in the early 1990s when the word ‘disruptor’ was a pejorative one and the status quo preached infallibility. His old vine Cabernet Franc dominant wine (80% of the blend) from a small vineyard nestled within a stone’s throw of Chateau Angelus was viewed with suspicion – it didn’t even have its own chateau or winemaking facility and was run by an Englishman – sacré bleu!

 

“Far more restrained than it can be, the 2019 possesses tremendous nuance” – Antonio Galloni

 

Now, with Cabernet Franc Bordeaux’s most modish grape variety and small plot vinification the new normal, Le Dome might instead be viewed as the product of a visionary. Immunity to change, however, was never part of the project – and as some say, if you see a good idea copy it! Cue a new focus on balance and purity under the auspices of golden boy wine consultant Thomas Duclos (better known for his wizardry at Chateau Canon) and a revamped Le Dome that celebrates its uniqueness while looking to the future. We encourage you to step on board.   

 

“Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Le Dome is a little closed and broody to begin, unfurling to reveal a profound core of preserved plums, fruitcake, chocolate-covered cherries and mocha with nuances of star anise, Sichuan pepper and cardamom. The medium to full-bodied palate is beautifully perfumed with loads of floral notes emerging among the black fruits, framed by remarkably soft, velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and fragrant. Gorgeous wine!”

96-98+pts Lisa Perrotti-Brown

  

Pavie Macquin 2019

£590 per case/12 IB

 

95-97pts Neal Martin, vinous “The 2019 Pavie Macquin feels very tight on the nose at first and certainly from my sample bottle, I allowed it 15-20 minutes to open. Eventually it reveals very intense scents of black cherries, cassis and crushed violet, touches of blood orange in the background. The palate has a satin-like texture, almost Vosne-Romanée-like, with extraordinarily pure blue and black fruit. Seamless! There is fine tension on the finish with impressive persistence. This is a seriously good Pavie-Macquin from Nicolas Thienpont and his team.”

 

95-97pts LPB, robertparker.com “Composed of 78% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2019 Pavie Macquin was harvested from the 23rd of September to the 11th of October. Yields were 47 hectoliters per hectare this year with about 90% of the production going into the grand vin. Deep garnet-purple in color, the wine opens with the most tantalizing perfume of lavender, lilacs and forest floor, giving way to a core of crushed blackberries, baked plums and blueberry preserves plus wafts of licorice and bay leaves. The full-bodied palate offers layer upon layer of black fruits and earthy nuances, sporting a solid structure of firm, grainy tannins and tons of freshness, finishing with great length and depth. About 5,500 cases are anticipated to be made.”

 

Contact us HERE to reserve