2021 Dominus Estate Red Wine

Aromas of freshly crushed blackcurrant, dark plum, and blackberry preserves integrate with sophisticated notes of violet, licorice, and cedar. The palate is full-bodied and muscular, featuring a dense core of black fruit and a firm, grainy texture. It displays a powerful structural tension and a lingering mineral energy, finishing with a distinct ferrous note and a touch of mocha that persists long after the last sip.

The team led by Christian Moueix and director Tod Mostero utilizes a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. In the cellar, the grapes undergo a meticulous sorting process, including both hand-sorting and an optical berry system, followed by lot-by-lot fermentation. The wine matures for 18 months in French oak barrels, with 40% of them being new wood. This restrained use of new oak, combined with traditional Bordeaux techniques like racking from barrel to barrel, ensures the wine maintains its aromatic purity and structural focus without being dominated by wood influence.

The fruit is grown exclusively in the historic Napanook Vineyard in the Yountville AVA of Napa Valley. The site is defined by its position on an alluvial fan at the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains, featuring gravelly and clay loam soils that are entirely dry-farmed. This lack of irrigation forces the vines to develop deep root systems, which was particularly essential during the dry 2021 vintage. The proximity to the San Pablo Bay provides cooling breezes that moderate the climate, allowing the grapes to reach full maturity while retaining the freshness and linear precision that distinguish Dominus as a benchmark for Bordeaux-inspired Napa Cabernet.