Lisa Perrotti Brown, February 2021 - 99+P 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+. "This is an example of a cool ripening vintage," Dominus's technical director, Tod Mostero, said. "It was a late season—everything was late from budbreak onward. We started harvesting on October 1st, then we got about an inch of rain, so we stopped, then we started again on the 9th and continued to the 15th."Proprietor Christian Moueix added, "We thought the elements of the 2018 vintage were very refined, and we wanted to play on that in the wine. It was the wines with a lot of delicacy and precision that went into the Dominus blend this year."The grace, purity and precision of this 2018 Dominus is absolutely captivating right now. And yet, poised on the brink of perfection, its promise of something more with time in bottle is at the heart of its allure. Embrace this wine for the very fact that it doesn't give you everything up front and all at once. Antonio Galloni, Vinous, October 2021 - 98P: The 2018 Dominus has really shut down over the last year. I underestimated its imposing structure and density, both of which are on fully display today. The 2018 is a potent Dominus endowed with superb depth and tons of vertical explosive energy allied to a feeling of elegance that becomes increasingly apparent over time. Dark fruit, spice and a whole range of earthy, savory notes add layers of complexity. Superb Dominus notes: Tasting Notes Perfectly balanced, Dominus 2018 maintains focus on the palate with aromas of sweet blue fruit, jasmine, cardamom, layers of plum and caramel. e wine nishes very long with lift and acceleration. Vintage Notes At Dominus Estate, the 2018 season started late and harvest from October 1-15 was 12 days later than our historical average. Seasonal rainfall was light (22” versus 31” annual average) and the beginning of summer remained consistently warm. In late summer, temperatures dropped below norms with morning fog in August and September. The fruit ripened slowly in the absence of heat spikes and harvest began with Cabernet Franc on October 1. A storm system which brought 1.2” of rain on October 2 and 3 interruptedpicking. Hot and very dry weather returned on October 5 and harvest continued with Cabernet Sauvignon on October 9, followed by Petit Verdot. We picked 94% of our fruit between October 9 – 15. The grapes were full and ripe and the resulting wines are deep, complex and well-articulated. General info: Dominus, produced in Yountville, Napa Valley by Christian Moueix and Tod Mostero, is one of California's iconic wines. Since its debut with the 1983 vintage, it has expressed the unique terroir of the historic Napanook Vineyard, celebrated for its complexity and elegance. Moueix emphasizes that winemaking begins in the vineyard. Despite Napanook's hot and dry microclimate, he employs French techniques similar to those at Château Petrus. Unique practices include washing grape clusters before harvest and picking grapes on the sunny side of the vine up to a week earlier than those on the shady side. Upon arrival at the winery, stems are removed, and grapes are sorted using advanced optical equipment and by hand to ensure only perfect grapes reach the stainless steel tanks. Grape skins and seeds are removed after a few days to enhance red fruit flavors and avoid overripe notes. The wine matures for 18 months in French barrels (40% new) before being clarified with egg whites and bottled without further treatment.
