2013 Dominus, Napa Valley

Dominus Estate was established in 1983 by Christian Moueix, who chose to plant his vines on the historic Napanook vineyard in Yountville, a site originally cultivated in 1838. The vines grow in gravelly clay loam soils at the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains and are made from a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. In the glass, the wine shows intense dark fruit aromas of blackberry and blackcurrant alongside notes of cedar wood, loamy soil, and forest floor, supported by ripe, firm tannins. The 2013 growing season provided a dry, warm climate that limited vine growth, resulting in small, concentrated yields and a wine of notable depth. This is a structured, long-term wine that is built for the cellar and will continue to develop complexity over the next several decades.