Dominus Estate was founded by Christian Moueix after he discovered the historic Napanook Vineyard in 1981. Moueix brought with him extraordinary experience from Bordeaux's Right Bank, but Dominus developed into something distinctly Californian: a restrained, site-driven expression of Napa Valley Cabernet grown from one historic estate vineyard. The Napanook Vineyard today encompasses 134 acres in Yountville, with 102 planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Its gravelly clay-loam soils and gentle slopes provide natural drainage, while Dominus' commitment to organic farming, dry farming and biodiversity encourages vines to develop deep root systems and a close connection to the site. The 2023 Dominus blends 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot and was aged for 20 months in French oak, only 40% new. That restrained élevage is intentional. Dominus believes excessive new oak can obscure vineyard character, favoring minimal intervention and careful extraction instead. The resulting wine combines extraordinary concentration with precision: cassis, blackcurrant and dark plum layered with graphite, crushed stone, sage, black olive and truffle. Its powerful but finely textured structure points toward decades of development. Awarded 100 points by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, the 2023 is a profound return for Dominus and a wine built to occupy a serious place in the cellar.
