Dominus Napa Valley

Dominus is the red wine produced from the historical Napanook vineyard, 124 acres in size, in Yountville, mid-Napa Valley, California. Lying just west of Highway 29 at the foot of the Mayacamas range, it is the original ranch where George Yount planted the first vines of the Napa Valley. More recently, it was one of the three vineyards from which the great Inglenook was made. Christian Moueix (of Pomerol fame) became a part owner in 1982 and full owner in 1995. He began producing Dominus with the 1983 vintage. The wine is essentially made from Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It has now obtained worldwide recognition and although Californian by birth with its opulence, spiciness and rich fruit, it clearly has a Bordeaux reference with its emphasis on elegance and refinement. Since the 1996 vintage Napanook has been the second wine of Dominus. The winery structure has also earned critical acclaim. It was designed by Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron and was unveiled in 1997, but is closed to the public.

Napanook 2008 Christian Moueix first released Napanook with the 1996 vintage. The intention is to produce a wine to be enjoyed in its younger years. Napanook is a blend of the four varietals coming from vineyard blocks chosen for their finesse, lively fruit and subtle tannins. The goal is to find the perfect equilibrium between these elements creating a wine that is harmonious in balance and of course, pleasurable to drink. The 2007 vintage has a beautiful garnet colour, with rich aromas of cedar, red berries and licorice. This is a refreshing wine, with supple tannins and a great balance between the nose and the mouth. The round, soft structure with a hint of cigar box leads to a finish of spice with earthy undertones. Christian Moueix recommends decanting the wine before serving to allow it to reach its full potential. "The 2008 Napanook (84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot) may be one of the greatest Napanooks made. It is a deeper, richer, more intense wine with full body, an endearing texture and a long, pure finish. These two are "take your pick" vintages, but wine enthusiasts would probably be remiss in not having both 2007 and 2008 in their cellars." 93 points, Wine Advocate, Dec 2010

Dominus 2008 Dominus is the proprietary red wine produced in the heart of Napa Valley by Christian Moueix and his team. Since 1983, their goal has been to express the unique terroir found at the historic Napanook vineyard. Today, the vineyard is planted with 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and the remaining acreage with the other classic Bordeaux varietals: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Since its first release, Dominus has been known for its compexity and earthy character, which pays tribute to the Napanook terroir. Christian Moueix truly believes that producing a wine begins in the vineyard. For that reason, each vintage is unique with different varietal compositions reflecting the vineyard and climate conditions of that particular year. Dominus 2008 is a seamless "haute couture" estate wine with an intensely aromatic nose and perfectly elegant palate. Notes of ripe red cherries, fresh almonds, pomegranate and blond tobacco precede sweet tannins and a wonderful, bright finish with great length. It is youthful, noble and discreet. "Made in a more masculine style (than the 2007), the 2008 Dominus has all of that along with bigger body and more structure, fat, density and texture. Both are brilliant wines and they represent the finest back-to-back vintages for Dominus since 2001 and 2002 or 1990 and 1991. Both the 2007 and 2008 Dominus should drink well for 25-30 years." 99 points, Wine Advocate, Dec 2009

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All wines are available by the unmixed case to Licensees and Private Consumers, subject to availability.

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