Ratings & Tasting Notes:

99 points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate:

Made in a more masculine style, the 2008 Dominus has all of that along with bigger body and more structure, fat, density and texture. Both are brilliant wines and they represent the finest back-to-back vintages for Dominus since 2001 and 2002 or 1990 and 1991. Both the 2007 and 2008 Dominus should drink well for 25-30 years. (12/10)

95 points James Suckling:

This is very pure fruit for Dominus. This will be interesting to see how it develops in the future. 2008 was a very small crop. Very perfumed and beautiful, with currants, flowers, and notes of mint. Full bodied, with round velvety tannins that lead up to a chocolate and ripe berry finish. This is showing great fruit, and a great finish. Structurally this is like a 2005 La Mission. This will be out in May 2011. (12/10)

93 points from Stephen Tanzer’s Internatioanl Wine Cellar:

Good full red-ruby. Fresher on the nose than the Napanook, showing raspberry, plum, mocha and tobacco aromas. Round and plummy in the mouth, with a restrained sweetness to the flavors of milk chocolate, mocha and licorice. A wine of moderate ripeness for the vintage, and in a shell today. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins and notes of plum, mocha and chocolate. I don’t find quite the structure or grip of the best years. (May/June ’11)

Cult Wines International Notes:

Dominus Estate is a renowned winery in the Napa Valley, founded by Christian Moueix, the esteemed winemaker from the famed Château Pétrus in Bordeaux. Moueix was drawn to the Napanook vineyard in Yountville, which had a long history of producing high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Napanook vineyard’s rich history began in 1836 when George C. Yount, the founder of Yountville, planted the first vines of the valley on this very site. The property passed through several notable hands, including John Daniel Jr., the owner of Inglenook Winery, who purchased the estate in 1946. Following Daniel’s death in 1970, his daughters, Robin Lail and Marcia Smith, inherited the vineyard and began a partnership with Christian Moueix in 1982, acting on a recommendation from Robert Mondavi. Moueix, the esteemed winemaker from the famed Château Pétrus in Bordeaux, was drawn to the vineyard’s unique gravelly, well-drained soil and microclimate, believing it was perfect for creating a world-class wine in the Bordeaux tradition. Moueix eventually became the sole owner of the estate in 1995.

Moueix’s vision for Dominus was to create a California wine that was deeply rooted in its terroir, reflecting the elegance and structure of Bordeaux. A key part of his philosophy is dry farming, a practice that forgoes irrigation to force the vines’ roots to dig deep into the soil for water, concentrating the flavors in the grapes. This practice is relatively rare in Napa Valley, but it defines the style of Dominus wines.

The flagship wine is Dominus, a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend that is celebrated for its complexity, balance, and aging potential. The estate also produces Napanook, the second wine, which offers a more approachable and earlier-drinking expression of the vineyard, and Othello, which is primarily sold in Europe. Today, Dominus Estate stands as a bridge between the winemaking traditions of the Old World and the New World, producing wines that are among the most sought-after in California.

Bottle Size:

750 mL

Storage History:

Always stored on its side in a climate-controlled cellar.

Condition:

Outstanding condition.