Known for its complexity and balance, Dominus demonstrates the potential of a wine produced on the exceptional terroir of the Napanook vineyard. Structured, seamless and perfectly integrated, this is an elegant wine that only improves with age. Bunches are hand-sorted, complemented by optical scanning to ensure only the highest quality grapes are used, gently pressed at low-pressure, and fermented in separate lots before resting in 100% French oak.

It is recommended to decant Dominus prior to serving, to allow it to develop its full potential, particularly when consuming young vintages.

The 2012 Dominus Proprietary Red Wine is a notable example from the Dominus estate, situated in Napa, California. This wine is a proprietary blend consisting primarily of Cabernet Sauvignon (93%), supplemented with Petit Verdot (5%) and Cabernet Franc (2%). Bottled with a cork closure, it boasts an alcohol content of 14.5%.

This vintage has garnered exceptional reviews for its depth, complexity, and aging potential. Antonio Galloni of Vinous awarded it a perfect score of 100 points, describing it as "a wild, exotic wine" and "very clearly one of the wines of the year." Galloni highlights its vibrant freshness and the impressive array of flavors, including ripe red cherry, kirsch, cinnamon, and rose petal.

James Suckling from jamessuckling.com gave it 98 points, praising its "fabulous purity and clarity of fruit," with notes of "black currants, blackberries, and violets." He describes the wine as having a full body and a finish that is both ripe and velvety, suggesting it is better in 2020 but already delicious to drink.

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate also scored the wine at 98+, with Robert M. Parker, Jr. noting its "exuberance and drama" and a dense profile featuring "Asian spice, ripe black currants, kirsch, tobacco leaf, and Christmas fruitcake." He commends its seamless integration of acidity, wood, and tannin, emphasizing its potential to age for 25-30 years.

Jeb Dunnuck, in his review for jebdunnuck.com, awarded the wine 99 points, calling it "a sensational wine" that ranks among the all-time greats of this cuvée. He mentions flavors of "blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, cedar box, and new leather," highlighting its fine tannin and perfectly integrated components.

Wine Spectator’s James Laube gave the wine 94 points, noting its "deftly balanced" nature with a mix of "gravelly, loamy earth, dried berry, cedar, and cigar box." He suggests it will be best from 2018 through 2030.

The Wine Independent's Lisa Perrotti-Brown awarded it 99 points, describing the wine’s "expressive notes of black cherry compote, black raspberries, and cassis," complemented by "ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness."

Overall, the 2012 Dominus Proprietary Red Wine is highly acclaimed for its complexity, balance, and aging potential. This vintage stands out as a significant achievement for the Dominus estate, offering both immediate enjoyment and long-term cellaring prospects.