Ratings & Tasting Notes:
98 points James Suckling
Loads of dark tobacco aromas with blackcurrants and black olives. Boysenberries, too. Full to medium body, ultra-fine tannins and lots of flavors of smoke, dried roasted chillis, black truffles, mushrooms and fruit. Bright acidity on the finish. Sexy and subtle austerity. Alluring.
98 points The Wine Independent
A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Petit Verdot, the 2014 Dominus is deep garnet in color. It waltzes out with flamboyant notes of blackcurrant jelly, baked plums, and boysenberry preserves, leading to suggestions of menthol, cast-iron pan, smoked meats, and cloves. The full-bodied palate is dense, muscular, and still very youthful, framed by ripe, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and earthy.
97 points Jeb Dunnuck
Coming from their valley floor site in Yountville, the 2014 Dominus is a rich, concentrated red, especially in 2014. It sports a deep ruby/plum color as well as a ripe nose of blackcurrants, unsmoked tobacco, lead pencil, licorice and smoked earth. With a ripe, full-bodied, concentrated style, sweet tannin, and a great finish, it has some similarities to the 1990 and will evolve for three decades or more.
97 points Wine Advocate
The 2014s, where the production of Napanook was only 2,200 cases and Dominus slightly more than the 2015 at 4,000 cases, was another early harvest, although somewhat later than 2015. The 2014 Dominus, which is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot really struts its stuff. Moueix’s belief in dry farming seems to be paying off with stronger and stronger vintages, each successive year, and the 2014 is a sexy, opulent, layered, multidimensional wine with notes of red and blackcurrant, cedar wood, tobacco leaf , spice box and licorice. The color is a dense plum/ruby/purple, much like the Napanook. This is a beauty that is already drinking gorgeously – as most 2014s are – and will continue to evolve for 25 or so years. (RP)
Cult Wines International Notes:
The Napanook vineyard has a rich history that pre-dates the Dominus Estate. In 1836, 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. 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:
Please note: The bottle shown is the exact bottle being sold.
Outstanding condition.
