Dominus is the red wine produced from the historical Napanook vineyard, 124 acres in size, in Yountville, mid-Napa Valley, California. Christian Moueix of St. Emilion and Pomerol (Ch Petrus) 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 French reference with its emphasis on elegance and refinement.

2000 $84.99
1999 $119.99 limited
?A wine of great intensity, depth and complexity. Beautifully crafted, ripe, rich and creamy, showing off pretty vanilla and mocha-scented oak before a deep core of currant, blackberry, black cherry and minerally flavors fold in. Firm tannins add structure on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2004 through 2014. Collectible.? 95 The Wine Spectator 11/15/02
"Medium red-ruby. Spicy red- and blackcurrant, plum, currant leaf and mocha on the claret-like nose. Dense and rich, with spicy red berry and lightly floral flavors nicely framed by harmonious acidity. Today one senses the wine's 13% cabernet franc component. Quite tightly coiled today; shows little sign of the roasted character shown by some '99s. Firmly tannic and very strong on the back end, with an almost medicinal austerity; very much a wine from small berries. This really needs at least seven or eight years of bottle aging; make sure to decant your bottle if you can't wait to pull the cork. Should ultimately merit a higher rating." 91+ Steve Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 5/6-02
1998 $101.99 $101.99 limited
"Earthy, elegant and refined Cabernet blend, delivering layers of currant, tar, black cherry, cedar, coffee and anise, all sharply focused and framed by just the right amount of tannin. Cellar Selection." 91 The Wine Spectator 7/31/01
"Deep ruby-red. Vibrant aromas of currant, minerals, tobacco and lead pencil, plus a whiff of game. Lush, thick and rich; complex, mellow flavors of dark chocolate, mocha, smoked meat and soy sauce, firmed by a mineral spine and lively acidity. This is stuffed with fruit. Tannins build on the very long finish." 91-93 5/6-00
1997 $149.99 $129.99 very limited
"A wine of substance and depth. Dark, rich and polished, with complex notes of earthy, meaty currant, anise, spice, cedar and leather, fanning out on the finish. Young and concentrated. Better than previously reviewed. Best from 2002 through 2012. Tasted twice, with consistent notes." 93 11/15/00
"Saturated ruby-red. Multidimensional nose offers a panoply of scents: black plum, currant, leather, smoked meat, cigar ash, lead pencil, sandalwood, dark chocolate, licorice, brown sugar. Very bright and sharply defined; flavors of plum, leather, hot stones and lead pencil. An impeccably balanced wine of compelling sweetness, but rather dominated today by its structure. Strong, thoroughly ripe tannins spread out to coat the entire palate. Very long and subtle. " 95 Steve Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 5/6-00
"The 1997 Dominus, a blend of 86.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 4.5% Merlot, is showing fabulously well. With 14.1% alcohol and a pH that would make many New World oenologists shudder (about 3.95), this wine is a fleshy, silky-textured, opulent wine with a gorgeous nose of roasted herbs, coffee, jammy black cherry and plum-like fruit. Asian spice, licorice, and blackberry and cherry notes with tobacco spice all add to this complex, very involved, yet gorgeously symmetrical Dominus. The wine is medium to full-bodied, very concentrated, and silky-textured. It is gorgeous to drink now, but should age easily for 10-15 years." 94 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #132 $134.99 very limited
"Full deep red. Sexy, perfumed aromas of black and red raspberry, currant, plum, graphite and spicy oak. Supple entry, then bright and sharply delineated thanks to firm acids. Fruit-driven flavors of currant, cherry and leather. Expands nicely on the aftertaste. Tannins are suaver than those of the '96." 93 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #114

Napanook
Napanook is, since the 1996 vintage, the second wine of Dominus. Napanook is a historical vineyard of 124 acres, located in Yountville, Napa Valley. Midway between Napa and St. Helena, it lies west of the Highway 29 at the foot of the Mayacamas mountains. 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 vintages of Inglenook were made. Christian Moueix became a part owner in 1982 and full owner in 1995.

2000 $38.99
1999 $42.99
1998 $35.99 limited
"Medium-deep red. Plum, blackberry, tobacco, smoke and soy sauce on the nose. Lush, sweet and minerally, with noteworthy complexity; hints of smoked meat and graphite. Finishes with firm but ripe tannins and very good persistence." 88-90 $35.99 limited
"Medium-deep red. Plum, blackberry, tobacco, smoke and soy sauce on the nose. Lush, sweet and minerally, with noteworthy complexity; hints of smoked meat and graphite. Finishes with firm but ripe tannins and very good persistence." 88-90 5/6-00
"The 1998 Napanook (85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, and 6% Petit Verdot) exhibits soft, straightforward coffee, herbs, cedar, and prune-like black cherry fruit flavors. This is a charming, up-front, medium-bodied wine that is meant to be drunk over the next 4-6 years. This wine offers a fine introduction to the Dominus style." 1997 sold out
"Good deep red. Very ripe aromas of plum, redcurrant, black cherry and menthol, plus distinctly grilled notes of tobacco, hot stones and roasted nuts. Sweet entry, then densely packed and shapely, with good purity of red fruit flavor thanks to the high cabernet franc content. Rather seriously structured for a second wine. Finishes with dusty, slightly drying tannins. A lot of California cabernet for the price." 91 5/6-00
"The 1997 Napanook Proprietary Red Wine (a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, and 17% Merlot) shows even better from bottle than it did from cask. The color is dark ruby with purple nuances. A sweet, open-knit nose offering aromas of tobacco, cedar, blackberry and cherry jam is followed by an opulently-textured, succulent, rich, fleshy, user-friendly, delicious wine. Undeniably hedonistic, it caresses the palate. Already delicious, it will age nicely for a decade." 90 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #126