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  • Country ranking ?

    304
  • Producer ranking ?

    28
  • Decanting time

    1h
  • When to drink

    Now
  • Food Pairing

    Game

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The Story

Dominus is created by French winemaker Christian Moueix, who crafted the wines of Chateau Petrus (a bottle of which recently sold at auction as one of the most expensive wines ever sold). The Dominus estate owns the historic Napanook Vineyard that was the base of so many of the historic Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignons of the 1950s and 1960s. It is considered one of the finest reds of Napa Valley.

Christian Moueix’s approach to creating wines of stature and longevity in Napa’s fertile and warm climate wasn’t always as popular as it is today. It started with his search for the perfect piece of land where he could realize his dream of creating a Napa Valley Cabernet to rival the First Growths of Bordeaux. This didn’t happen overnight, in fact the entire vineyard that feeds Dominus was reorganized and replanted over the last three decades to take better advantage of the varieties, expositions and spacing that would best express this esteemed terroir. The introduction of Tod Mostero as vineyard manager and winemaker was another big step in the right direction.

Dominus Estate, Yountville, California, was established in 1983 by Christian Moueix. Situated on the famed Napanook vineyard, it was, in the 1940’s and 1950’s, the source of fruit for some of the finest Napa Valley wines. In fact, the vineyard’s history can be traced back to Napa Valley’s beginnings, when in 1838 George Yount, for whom the town of Yountville was named, first planted grapevines there. Today, this historic vineyard produces three wines: Dominus, its flagship, Napanook, and Othello.

Christian Moueix chose the name ‘Dominus’ (‘lord of the estate’ in Latin) to underscore his longstanding commitment to the land. Rooted in values of quality, stewardship, tradition and innovation, the Dominus Estate team shares a vision of producing distinctive wines that are expressive of this singular terroir.

The vineyard is entirely dry-farmed, allowing the vines to draw deeply on the land’s unique geology. The viticulture and winemaking are undertaken meticulously, with the objective of producing wines that are pure, balanced and complex. Minimal intervention and restraint throughout the process of grape berry selection, fermentation and aging preserve the character of the fruit. The resulting wines, with a tremendous potential for aging, convey the very personality of this historic vineyard.

Known for its complexity and balance, Dominus demonstrates the potential of a wine produced on exceptional terroir. Structured, seamless and perfectly integrated, Dominus is an elegant wine that improves with age.

In 1997, a winery designed by the Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron was completed. Due to strict enforcement of Napa county regulations, it is closed to the public.

To celebrate the 30th vintage of Dominus Estate, the 2013 label dons a special portrait of Christian Moueix by South African artist William Kentridge. The 2013 Dominus recalls the ‘portrait series’ of the earliest vintages (1983-1990), when noted artists depicted Christian Moueix on the labels.

In 2021, Dominus Estate received its CCOF ("California Certified Organic Farmers") certification for organic farming practices. 

VIneyards: 42 hectares (103 acres)

Soil: Gravelly and clay loam

Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot

Winemaking:

  • Certified organic farming practices
  • Dry-farming (no irrigation)
  • Soil tillage (French plow)
  • Vine growth management adapted to the climatic conditions
  • Manual harvest ; sunny side of the vines picked a few days before the shady side.
  • Manual and optical sorting
  • Gentle pump-overs and extraction
  • 18 months in French oak barrels (40% new)

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Wine Information

DOMINUS 1984

The 1984 Dominus Estate is the second vintage produced by the John Daniel Society solely from Bordeaux varieties grown at Napanook Vineyard in Yountville, California.  Specific vineyard blocks were selected just before picking, an annual practice that ensures that only the highest quality fruit is used in making Dominus Estate.

The 1984 vintage is composed of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot.

The 1984 Dominus Estate has a beautiful deep ruby color and a spicy nose with light cassis notes.  It is a rich, fleshy wine with tannins that are already beginning to soften.  Christian Moueix recommends decanting an hour before serving to allow the full potential to show.

The portrait for the 1984 Dominus Estate label was done by contemporary American artist Larry Rivers.

Vintage Summary:

Although winter rainfall was just shy of normal (35.68 inches), 25 inches fell in November and December.  May, June and August were moderate in temperature, but July and September were extremely hot, of 20 days over 100 degrees, six were in July and eight in September.

BEGINNING DATE OF HARVEST:  September 2

FINAL DATE OF HARVEST:  September 12

PERCENTAGE OF NEW BARRELS:  20%

BOTTLING DATE:  July 1986

9-LITER CASES PRODUCED:  4200

RELEASE DATE: March 1988

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Latest Pro-tasting notes

14 tasting notes

Tasting note

color

Medium

nose

Intense

recommend

Yes

Written Notes

Ruby, thin brick rim. Anise, coffee, dark fruits, some spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, some coffee, anise, some spices, bit herbal finish, some dates. Long, if not the most gracefull. 93

  • 93p

Moderatlery dense mahogny red colour. Bit closed nose with oak tones, Mediterranean herbs and blackcurrants. Full-bodied, dense, ripe dark cassis, dark chocolate. Refined fin tannins. Long and persistent finish. JL 95p (8/2018)

  • 95p
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Information

Origin

Yountville, Napa Valley
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