Dominus Estate, Napa Valley, California, 1997

Overview of the Wine                                                                     
In the late 1960s, while attending the University of California at Davis, Christian Moueix fell in love with the Napa Valley and its wines. Son of Jean-Pierre Moueix, the famed wine merchant and producer from Libourne, France, Moueix returned home in 1970 to manage the family vineyards, including Chateaux Petrus, La Fleur-Petrus, Trotanoy in Pomerol and Magdelaine in Saint Emilion.

His love of Napa Valley lingered and in 1981, he discovered the historic Napanook vineyard, a 124-acre site west of Yountville that had been the source of fruit for some of the finest Napa Valley wines of the 1940s and 1950s. In 1982, Moueix entered into a partnership to develop the vineyard and, in 1995, became its sole owner. He chose the name 'Dominus' or 'Lord of the Estate' in Latin to underscore his longstanding commitment to stewardship of the land.

Winemaker
Christian Moueix

Grape / Blend
87.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 4.5% Merlot

Origin
Yountville, Napa Valley, California

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
The 1997 Vintage has a deep ruby color and aromas of very ripe black currant, spices and mineral overtones. It exhibits power and elegance and finishes with substantial but silky rich tannins.

95 Points - Wine Advocate
Medium garnet-brick colour. Complex, evolved aromas of black olive, dried cherries, bacon fat, graphic, balsamic, soy and a touch of truffle. The palate is finely knit with crisp acidity and a medium level of very fine tannins pulling together fruit a well balanced amount of earthy / savoury fruit. Very long finish. (LPB)

95 Points - Vinous
Saturated ruby-red. Multidimensional nose offers a panoply of scents: black plum, currant, leather, smoked meat, cigar ash, lead pencil, sandalwood, dark chocolate, licorice, brown sugar. Very bright and sharply defined; flavors of plum, leather, hot stones and lead pencil. An impeccably balanced wine of compelling sweetness, but rather dominated today by its structure. Strong, thoroughly ripe tannins spread out to coat the entire palate. Very long and subtle. (ST)

93 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Deep berry, cinnamon, briar and mint aromas. Firm, even backwards, it is trim and elegant, yet solid. Black fruit and bitter-chocolate flavors abound. The finish is especially tight, with dry tannins and complex mineral and earth elements. Huge but refined, the quintessential iron fist in a velvet glove; it needs time.

93 Points - Wine Spectator
A wine of substance and depth. Dark, rich and polished, with complex notes of earthy, meaty currant, anise, spice, cedar and leather, fanning out on the finish. Young and concentrated. Better than previously reviewed. (JL)

Product size: 750ml