Dominus Estate - Othello Napa Valley 2021 (750ml)

 
TWI
93

Price: $55.00

Producer Dominus Estate
Country USA
Region California
Subregion Napa Valley
Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage 2021
Sku 8798
Size 750ml

The Wine Independent: 93 Points

The 2021 Othello, is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it skips out of the glass with bright, cheery notes of fresh blackberries, juicy black plums, and redcurrant jelly followed by hints of graphite, black olives, menthol, and lavender. The medium to full-bodied palate is light on its feet and lively, with soft silt-like tannins and bright crunchy red and black fruit flavors, finishing with a minty lift. 1,000 cases were made.

Othello is a “third label” made from the Napanook Vineyard (the source of Dominus). It has been made since 2005 but, thus far, has only been distributed overseas. The 2021 Othello is the first vintage to be distributed in the USA.

Estate director Tod Mostero explained where Othello comes from: “The top of our alluvial fan (the area closest to the Mayacamas) is composed of rocky/gravelly soils. The section below this is mainly silt and further down are clay-based soils. Dominus tends to come from the uppermost gravelly soils. Generally, Napanook comes from the lower parts, planted on silt and clay. Othello comes from the area beyond the alluvial fan—the part of our vineyard closer to Hopper Creek and Highway 29.”

The style of Othello is distinct from Dominus and Napanook. Light on its feet, soft, bright, and with crunchy red and black fruit, it has a far more easy-breezy feel than its bigger siblings. This makes for a fun, refreshing style to be enjoyed anytime while possessing the ethos and essence of Napanook Vineyard.

Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown

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