Producer | Dominus Estate |
Country | USA |
Region | California |
Subregion | Napa Valley |
Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
Vintage | 2016 |
Sku | 1704616 |
Size | 750ml |
Dominus Estate is the Napa Valley property of Bordeaux producer Christian Moueix. The wine Dominus and Napanook are both estate bottled from the historic Napanook Vineyard. Located at the foothills of the Mayacamas the vineyard was planted in 1838 and continues to evolve under the stewardship of Christian Moueix. The estate's Bordeaux varietals benefit from the Yountville microclimate where temperatures are moderated by cool breezes from the San Pablo Bay. The resulting wines are each uniquely refined expressions of this special terroir. "
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. It’s more backward and reserved than the 2015 and needs 4-5 years of cellaring. It will unquestionably live for 25-30 years.
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. To be released in May 2019.
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. A blend of 84 per cent cabernet sauvignon eight per cent
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.
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