Description
The Wine Palate Review
Rated 100
The 2023 Dominus is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot. Opaque purple-black in color, it slowly unfurls to reveal a powerful core of blackcurrant jelly, ripe black plums, and fresh blueberries, followed by hints of menthol, crushed rocks, dried sage, black truffles, and black olives. The full-bodied palate is both generous and energetic, displaying an impressive array of savory and earthy nuances among the dense black fruit layers and a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins and beautiful tension, finishing with epic length.
More Accolades
- James Suckling: 99 points
- Wine Advocate: 98 points
- Jeb Dunnuck: 97 points
- VinoUS Media: 96 points
Dominus Napa Proprietary Red 2023
A benchmark Napa Valley estate wine, Dominus 2023 continues the estate’s legacy of precision, structure, and Old-World restraint married to Napa power.
Crafted by Christian Moueix from dry-farmed Yountville vineyards, the 2023 vintage is expected to deliver purity, tension, and long-term cellar potential—hallmarks of Dominus in cooler, balanced growing years.
Key Details
- Producer: Dominus Estate (Christian Moueix)
- Region: Yountville, Napa Valley
- Style: Proprietary Red (Bordeaux-style blend)
- Varietals: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot
- Farming: Dry-farmed estate vineyards
- ABV: 15%
Tasting Notes
- Blackcurrant, blackberry, and dark plum
- Graphite, tobacco leaf, and dried herbs
- Firm tannins with lifted acidity and precision
- Long, mineral-driven finish with classic Dominus restraint
Profile & Craft
- Estate-grown fruit from historic Napanook Vineyard
- Dry-farming enhances concentration and terroir expression
- Minimal intervention winemaking focused on purity and longevity
- One of Napa’s most collectible and age-worthy reds
Serving & Pairing
- Decant 2 hours in youth for aromatic clarity
- Pairs with ribeye, lamb, duck confit, and truffle dishes
- Cellar potential: 20-30 years
- Ideal for collectors of structured, Old-World-leaning Napa reds
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