Dominus Estate 2016

About

Dominus is the proprietary red wine produced by Christian Moueix, from grapes grown on a single vineyard in the heart of the Napa Valley. The wines reflect both the California terroir and the spirit of a great Bordeaux chateau, with its attention to detail and devotion to quality in every aspect of winemaking.

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.

We recommend decanting the wine prior to serving, to allow it to develop its full potential, particularly when serving young Dominus wines.

A very wet winter and spring, seasonal rainfall was twice the historical average. With soil water reserves full and warm temperatures in May and June, vines grew quickly and luxuriantly. Several significant heat waves were recorded in June, July, August, and September with a record-breaking 112 F on September 1st.
Ripening was fast and homogenous. The severe heat wave before harvest induced significant crop loss. To maintain quality, fruit selection was critical and resulted in our smallest vintage since 1988. Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon: 88%, Cabernet Franc: 7%, Petit Verdot: 5%

The opulence of fresh flowers and dark fruit is so impressive. There’s so much going on, from flowers to currants. The palate is full and powerful, but what impresses most are the ripe tannins and the amazing poise at the finish. Tightens down at the end. A blend of 84 per cent cabernet sauvignon, eight per cent petit verdot and eight per cent cabernet franc.