2019 Dominus, Napa Valley

Christian Moueix's Dominus Estate, situated on the historic Napanook Vineyard in Yountville, is fundamentally shaped by a philosophy of minimal intervention and dry-farming. This Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant Bordeaux blend is cultivated on an alluvial fan characterized by well-draining gravelly and clay loam soils at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains, a terroir that fosters deep vine roots and natural hydrological balance. Meticulous viticulture, including precise canopy management and hand-sorting, precedes fermentation in individual lots and aging in 40% new French oak, ensuring a pure expression of the site. The 2019 vintage, defined by a wet spring, a warm summer with few heat extremes, and a prolonged, mild finish, allowed for extended hang time and balanced physiological ripeness. The resulting wine exhibits a plush, weighty mid-palate framed by firm, finely grained tannins and seamless freshness, indicative of the vintage's concentrated yet balanced profile.