On Sale: $74.94 (was: $84.94)*
Once the foundation of the iconic Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignons back in the 1950s and '60s, Christian Moueix could not have picked a better spot in Napa than the iconic Napanook Vineyard. That was back in 1983, and while Dominus has been a highly respected grand vin now for many years, the selection process has become so strict that their second wine, the ‘Napanook’ is now regularly outclassing other flagship cuvees, and Galloni has praised it as “one of the very best values in top Napa Valley Cabernet.” Just look at 2018, with Dominus nabbing double 100pt scores and costing ~$300, the ‘Napanook’ is clearly a success (JS97pts, “one of the best I have ever tasted”) but available at a fraction of the price - a perfect introduction to this world-class estate!
Moueix is the Bordeaux legend whose greatest success on the other side of the pond was arguably his nearly four decade run as director of Chateau Petrus, and Dominus, his premiere Napa outpost for many years, has been equally deserving of critical acclaim, earning multiple 100pt ratings from multiple reviewers. The historic Napanook vineyard in Yountville is dry farmed, and was initially planted with higher proportions of Merlot/Cab Franc, though today both the flagship and second wine are now 90% Cab in most vintages. This is “one of California’s leaders in turning out gorgeously elegant, complex and long-lived wines” (Parker), and at this price point, the 97pt Napanook is hard to beat!
97 points, James Suckling: "Gorgeous aromas of plums and currants with some wet earth, mushroom, bark and incense undertones. Woody. Medium-to full-bodied with such beautiful depth and length. So subtle and long. Fabulous harmony. One of the best I have ever tasted."
*Offer publication date August 11, 2021. Pricing and availability subject to change.