Dominus is a testament to the pioneering atmosphere of Napa Valley and the explorative spirit that has persisted in the region since its very beginnings. When Christian Moueix, proprietor of the legendary Château Petrus in Pomerol decided to start this project in California, his vision was to bring a Bordeaux winemaking approach to a region with warmer sunshine and verdant vineyards. The mission has been a success, as these wines taste distinctly unique in contrast to peers all across the valley. The acidity and finely bound structure of the wines is matched by the opulence of Napa fruit and powerful aromatics.
The vineyards are the principal driving force behind the beautiful wines. Planted on the Napanook vineyard in Yountville, this is one of the oldest sites in Napa Valley. It was originally planted in 1838 by George C. Yount (for whom Yountville is named), making it one of Napa’s foundational vineyard locations. In the 1940s, this vineyard provided fruit for some of Napa’s earliest premium Cabernet Sauvignons, including wines made by Inglenook. A mix of alluvial gravel, clay loam, and volcanic subsoils from the nearby Mayacamas range; these well-drained, nutrient-poor soils help limit vigor and promote the development of concentrated fruit.
Christian Moueix has championed dry farming at Dominus. This technique reduces yields, increases concentration, and encourages the vines to root deeply into the subsoil, giving the wine greater complexity and site expression. It’s uncommon in Napa, due to the region’s typically hot summers, but Moueix brought this philosophy from Bordeaux.
“Dry farming, gentle extractions and minimal use of new French oak are some of the cornerstones of the approach employed by proprietor Christian Moueix and winemaker Tod Mostero in crafting these exquisitely beautiful Cabernets.” -Antonio Galloni, Vinous
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Dominus
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles of Dominus
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Sale ends Wednesday, May 21st at 9 am Pacific.
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles of Dominus
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Wednesday, May 21st at 9 am Pacific.
We offer five options from Dominus on sale now, including:
Wine Spectator #1 Wine of the Year in 2021!
Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2018 375ml Displayed Price: $219, that’s $208.05 at 5% off and $197.10 at 10% off, 16 half-bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “The flagship 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon checks in as 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot brought up in 40% new French oak. With an essence of Cabernet-like character in its darker currants, green tobacco, cedar, graphite, and floral aromas and flavors, this gorgeous wine is full-bodied and has bright yet integrated acidity, polished tannins, and a great, great finish. It’s just gorgeously put together and a magical, flawless wine. It’s going to take a decade to hit maturity but will evolve for 40-50 years in cold cellars. It is as good as it gets in classic, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon!”
James Suckling 100 points “This is incredible on the nose, offering hot stones, blackcurrants, iodine and wet earth. Full-bodied with a tight center palate, then it opens with a tannin structure that is weightless and spreads across the palate. Totally integrated on the palate. This is a magic-carpet wine. Really incredible. One of the reference points for the vintage. Drinkable now and please try a bottle, but it’s one for the cellar.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 99+ points “Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Dominus slowly emerges from the glass with profound notes of blackcurrant cordial, ripe black plums, boysenberries and Black Forest cake with hints of violets, star anise, cracked black pepper, raspberry leaves and pencil lead, plus a touch of garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers impactful black fruit layers, creating a beguiling sense of richness that is beautifully countered by invigorating freshness and great poise, framed by super ripe, plush tannins and beautiful tension, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note and, finally, lots of mineral sparks. For all that it is at the moment, one cannot help but feel that this 2018 is holding something back. Give it a good five years in bottle, at least, and then get set for what I suspect will be a mind-blowing transformation over the next 30 years+.-LPB”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 97 points “The 2018 Dominus is wild and exotic from the first taste. Lifted aromatics make a strong opening impression. There is something exuberant about the 2018 that is hard to describe. The 2018 is not a huge Dominus, nor is it massively structured, but the intensity of the flavors is remarkable just the same. Dark raspberry, spice, leather and cedar are some of the many notes that open over time.”
“The 2019s from Dominus are stellar… The Dominus Cabernet is shaping up to be one of the great wines of the vintage.” -Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $319, that’s $303.05 at 5% off and $287.10 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock nowLisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent 100 points “Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot, the 2019 Dominus was harvested from September 29 to October 10. It was aged in 40% new oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose slowly unfurls to unveil beguiling floral notes of candied violets and rose oil over a core of crème de cassis, blackberry pie, and plum preserves, giving way to notions of licorice, Indian spices, iron ore, and crushed rocks. Full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with taut, muscular black fruit layers, intertwined with gorgeous floral and exotic spice accents, and framed by firm, finely grained tannins with seamless freshness, finishing long and mineral-laced. Tightly coiled with so much latent energy waiting to explode, this is a spectacular expression of the vintage and Napanook vineyard. Still tightly coiled, give it a good 6-7 years in the cellar before broaching, and allow it a few hours in a decanter if consumed before 2032.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2019 Dominus is blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc, aged in 40% new French oak. Impressively dark-hued in the glass, it yields scents of cherries and cassis on the nose—or is it black cherries and redcurrants? Subtle notes of mocha, pencil shavings and almost Graves-like earthiness wind through the concentrated, medium to full-bodied palate, giving it a sense of savory gravitas, while the finish is silky and long, leaving a lingering residue of soft tannins and mouthwatering freshness.”
Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $349, that’s $331.55 at 5% off and $314.10 at 10% off, 5 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 98 points “Aromas of blackcurrants, black cherries, hints of graphite, wet earth, and lavender. Sandalwood. Full-bodied with an impressive and refined structure that runs deep and vertical in the wine. Chewy. Hints of chocolate and hazelnut at the end. Needs five or six years to soften.”
The Wine Independent 96 points “A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Dominus has a deep garnet-purple color. It rolls out of the glass with expressive notes of baked blackberries, preserved plums, and kirsch, with suggestions of Indian spices, sandalwood, potpourri, and black truffles, plus a ferrous hint. The full-bodied palate delivers a firm, grainy texture with just enough freshness to support the generous fruit, finishing long and oh-so-spicy. Yum!”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 95 points “An excellent wine, even if not a great Dominus, the 2020 Dominus delivers waves of dark fruit—think predominantly cassis. A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, it’s full-bodied and richly textured, perhaps a bit warm and open-knit because of the summer’s heat, but with a long, velvety finish attractively tinged with mocha and dark chocolate”
Wine Spectator 95 points “This throws off dense kirsch and linzer torte aromas and flavors, along with a mix of smoldering tobacco, leather, warm paving stone and licorice root hints that provide a brooding edge on the back end. Surprisingly backward for the vintage and impressively done. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.”
Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $359, that’s $341.05 at 5% off and $323.10 at 10% off, 1 bottles in stock now
Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2021 1.5L Displayed Price: $789, that’s $749.55 at 5% off and $710.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “One of the legendary Dominus, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is unquestionably in the same league as the 2018, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2010, and 1991, and to my mind, wine simply doesn’t get any better. Sporting a dense purple hue as well as an incredible perfume of blackcurrants, crushed stone, cedar pencil, smoke tobacco, and baking spices, it’s rich, full-bodied, and voluptuously textured, with ripe yet building tannins. It reminds me slightly of the 2010 (maybe the 2013), and I suspect it will have a similar evolution. Hide bottles for 7-8 years, and it will evolve gracefully for 30+ years. Hats off to the team of Christian Moueix and director Tod Mostero.”
James Suckling 99 points “The purity of the cabernet fruit is so enticing, with blackcurrant, rose petals, nettles and subtle graphite. Touches of terra cotta and licorice. Full-bodied with super integrated tannins that are wonderfully polished, giving a cashmere texture that is really luxurious to taste at this early stage. It is quenching and so delicious already. 95% cabernet sauvignon and 5% cabernet franc. Needs three to four years to come around but already a joy to taste.”
Wine Spectator 96-99 points “This shows density on par with the ’18, with a core of cassis and plum notes still tucked away a bit behind a wall of structure, while singed toast and licorice hints peek in throughout. The youthfully backward aspect shows on the finish as well, where this throws a chunk of tannins to the fore. Very concentrated and with serious tension, this is a strapping young wine that shows what a warm and very dry vintage feels like.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 98 points “The 2021 Dominus is a powerful, tightly-coiled wine that is holding back quite a bit of reserve. There’s real depth and resonance waiting to emerge as the wine matures. Floral overtones and bright acids confer energy to a core of red/bluish fruits. Readers will find a Dominus built more on linear precision rather than opulence. It is hugely impressive in this tasting, with a long chalky finish.”