Dominus Estate

The vineyard for Dominus Estate is called Napanook, believed to be one of the first vineyards planted in Napa Valley, established in 1836. Purchased in 1946 by John Daniel of Inglenook, his daughters Marcie Smith and Robin Lail, partnering with Christian Moueix, formed Dominus in 1982.

Christian is best known as the owner and manager of his family’s negociant business in Libourne and properties in Pomerol and St-Emilion. He later purchased the shares of Daniel’s daughters in 1995 to become sole owner. The winery is designed by the well-known Swiss architect Herzog and de Meuron, made from rocks encased in a wire cage.

The first vintage was in 1983, with Moueix’s winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet, heavily involved from the outset. The wine has an unmistakable French personality, tasted like Bordeaux but with the ripe Napa fruit. The vineyard has access to underground moisture so able to adopt dry farming.

Since 2007 there is an active biodiversity program, plus a cover crop between rows helping to restrain natural vigor of the vine. In 1996 a second wine Napanook was created to improve the overall quality of Dominus.

I have recently tasted the 1995 vintage and below is my tasting note:

Appearance

Bright and clear, it has medium intensity ruby color, with wide garnet rims and legs.

Nose

Clean, with medium (+) intensity aromas showing ripe black fruit of plum and dark cherries, oak notes of cedar, maturity notes of tobacco and vegetal, pungent spice of licorice, kernel notes of dark chocolate. The wine is fully developed.

Palate

Dry with medium acidity, it has medium tannin which is supple and of velvety texture. Medium (+) in alcohol, the wine has medium (+) body and medium (+) intensity flavors of black fruit of dark cherries and plum, maturity notes of vegetal and tobacco, oak notes of cedar, kernel notes of dark chocolate. The wine has a long finish.

Conclusion

My first impression is that the wine is fairly aged and maybe a bit over its peak for my liking, however I still rate this wine of very good quality. The fruit has started to fade and more dominated by the vegetal and tobacco on the nose, but still in good intensity and showing good complexity. The most impressive thing for this wine is that it got one of the longest finishes I have ever experienced for a red. It is ready to drink now and not intend for further ageing.