2020 Dominus Proprietary Red Napa Valley
Floral, jasmine tea, saddle leather, blue plum, weightless, lifted with a resonant finish.
Christian Moueix, whose family owns Château Pétrus in Pomerol, fell in love with Napa Valley during the late 1960s while attending UC Davis. In 1982, he partnered with Robin Lail and Marcia Smith, daughters of legendary Inglenook owner/winemaker John Daniel, to create Dominus Estate on the site of the historic Napanook Vineyard in Yountville. This was the only portion of the old Inglenook estate retained by the Daniel family after Inglenook was sold in 1964. The first vintage was 1983 and since then, Moueix has painstakingly restored the original vineyard - first planted in 1836 by pioneer George Yount - which now totals 108 dry-farmed acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
Decanter
With a good decant, the compact, quiet bouquet of this 2020 Dominus begins to show off, exhibiting perfumed aromatics of dark-toned berry fruit, blood orange, and cocoa nibs. It boasts impressive staying power with a real depth of concentration of fruit. Long strands of velvety tannins are interwoven around pure and symphonic black-toned fruit, while bright and present acidity provides the kind of lift that makes the wine seem almost featherweight. A beautiful red florality envelops the finish. Winemaker Tod Mostero said that hours before the Glass Fire on 27 September, they had just brought in the last of their grapes. It's a good thing, too, because it's a splendid wine and deserves to share the spotlight with the best wines of the vintage. Aged 16-18 months in 40% new French oak.
James Suckling
Aromas of blackcurrants, black cherries, hints of graphite, wet earth, and lavender. Sandalwood. Full-bodied with an impressive and refined structure that runs deep and vertical in the wine. Chewy. Hints of chocolate and hazelnut at the end.