2005 Dominus Estate, Christian Moueix, Napa Valley, Bottle (750ml)

LP99 "A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2005 Dominus is deep garnet in color, with a touch of brick. It needs a lot of shaking to release notes of baked blackcurrants, fruitcake, and blueberry compote, plus hints of baking chocolate, licorice, dried mint, and pencil lead, plus a waft of wood smoke. The concentrated, hedonically styled, full-bodied palate is jam-packed with layers of black and blue fruit preserves, framed by wonderfully ripe, grainy tannins and well-integrated acidity, finishing very long, profound, and shimmery." LPB for TWI Mar 2023

RP98 "This blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot (note that rarely is any Merlot utilized at the historic Napanook Estate in Yountville). The alcohol, by California standards, is a relatively modest 14.1%. Blending the best of French savoir faire with the brilliant fruit purity and ripeness of Napa Valley, Moueix has turned in another tour de force that seems far superior today than it did when it was first released. This is one of the vintage’s greatest wines. Dense purple and youthful, with a glorious nose of earth, blackcurrants, sweet black cherries and incense, the oak is pushed way in the background, as it is in all of the Moueix wines, and the result is a wine of terroir, of great originality and authenticity. This full-bodied classic from Dominus can be drunk now, but really won’t hit its prime for another 4-5 years and last at least another two decades or more." RP Jun 2015
It’s hard to believe that Christian Moueix released his first vintage in 1983, nearly 32 years ago. He still seems like a young man! Of course, his experience with Bordeaux and Napa has become the stuff of legends. Dominus, which was profoundly misunderstood by California wine critics from his first release, has turned out to be one of the bright, shining superstars of Napa. And even the older vintages, which even Moueix is quick to criticize, have aged beautifully and can be stunning wines. However, there is no question that since the early 1990s, Moueix has been flirting with perfection in many vintages. The last 10-15 vintages have been out of this world, with a few wines meriting perfection. He has now, at least in my mind, produced perfect wines in 1991, 1994 and 2010. What is amazing about Dominus is that it always shows much better after bottling. I don’t have any explanation for it, but that has also been the pattern of all of his Pomerols and St.-Emilions made in France."