Ratings & Tasting Notes:

100 points Wine Advocate
Review Date: 10/2018
A blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot and 8% Cabernet Franc aged in 40% new oak, the 2016 Proprietary Red Wine is deep purple-black in color and quite reticent at this youthful stage to begin, offering up subtle notions of potpourri, Indian spices, cigar box and iron ore over a core of crushed blackberries and black cherries with intermittent wafts of black and red currants, new leather and smoked meats. The palate is medium to full-bodied with a densely packed mid-palate and oodles of freshness framed by very ripe, finely grained tannins and laced with compelling earthy accents. It offers incredible vibrancy with tons of black and red fruit sparkle in the mid-palate leading to a provocative mineral element on the very long finish. If I could give more than 100 for this one, I would. (LPB)

100 points The Wine Independent
Review Date: N/A
A blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Petit Verdot, the 2016 Dominus is deep garnet-purple in color. Pow! It erupts from the glass with powerful black and blue fruit notes of blueberry preserves, crème de cassis, juicy blackberries, and crushed plums, followed by hints of lilacs, cardamom, baking spices, and fragrant soil. The palate is full-bodied, youthful, bright, and pure with so many fruit, spice, and floral layers and a fantastically ripe, soft texture, finishing so bright that it shines. Incredible! (LPB)

98+ points  Jeb Dunnuck
Review Date: 01/2019
Another possible legend in the making is the 2016 Dominus, a classic blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot and the rest Cabernet Franc brought up in 40% new French oak. Pure, pristine notes of charcoal, cold fireplace, smoke tobacco, and both blue and black fruits all flow to a full-bodied 2016 that has incredible elegance and finesse, yet also depth and density. 98+

98 points  James Suckling
Review Date: 12/2018
The opulence of fresh flowers and dark fruit is so impressive. There’s so much going on, from flowers to currants. The palate is full and powerful, but what impresses most are the ripe tannins and the amazing poise at the finish. Tightens down at the end.

97 points  Vinous
Review Date: 12/2018
The 2016 Dominus is a dark, somber wine. I don’t quite see the explosive energy of the 2013 or 2010, not the seductiveness of the 2012, but the 2016 has a distinct charm that is all its own. Quite frankly, I can’t remember a young Dominus with this combination of fruit density, freshness and polished tannins. A huge center of fruit emerge with time in the glass in a big, large-scaled Dominus that should provide readers with a long drinking window of pure pleasure once some of the baby fat wears off. (AG)

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.