Dominus Napa Valley Estate2021

100 Points Jeb Dunnuck: “One of the legendary Dominus, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is unquestionably in the same league as the 2018, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2010, and 1991, andto my mind, wine simply doesn’t get any better. Sporting a dense purple hue as well as an incredible perfume of blackcurrants, crushed stone, cedar pencil, smoke tobacco, and baking spices, it s rich, full-bodied, and voluptuously textured, with ripe yet building tannins. It reminds me slightly of the 2010 (maybe the 2013), and I suspect it will have a similar evolution. Hide bottles for 7-8 years, and it will evolve gracefully for 30+ years.Hats off to the team of Christian Moueix and director Tod Mostero.”

99 Points James Suckling:“The purity of the cabernet fruit is so enticing, with blackcurrant, rose petals, nettles and subtle graphite. Touches of terra cotta and licorice. Full-bodied with super integrated tannins that are wonderfully polished, giving a cashmere texture that is really luxurious to taste at this early stage.It is quenching and so delicious already. 95% cabernet sauvignon and 5% cabernet franc. Needs three to four years to come around but already a joy to taste.”

99 Points Wine Spectator:“This shows density on par with the 18, with a core of cassis and plum notes still tucked away a bit behind a wall of structure, while singed toast and licorice hints peek in throughout. The youthfully backward aspect shows on the finish as well, where this throws a chunk of tannins to the fore. Very concentrated and with serious tension, this is a strapping young wine that shows what a warm and very dry vintage feels like.”

Since its inaugural vintage in 1983, the wines ofDominus Estatehave been crafted in a traditional and terroir-driven style by the luminous Christian Moueix of Chateau Petrus fame. Unable to pass up the change to make what he called the Haut-Brion of Napa, Moueix came to own the legendary Napanook Vineyard. Moueix eschews irrigation, acidification, and the heavy usage of oak common amongst his Napa colleagues. The exceptional terroir of Napanook in combination with his skillful viticulture and traditional winemaking techniques have repeatedly resulted in some of the most broadly enjoyable Napa Cabs available and clearly place Dominus in the upper echelon of this genre.