The 2017 Dominus Proprietary Red Wine is a distinguished offering from the Dominus estate, located in Napa, California. This red wine is a proprietary blend composed primarily of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, supplemented by 7% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. It was harvested from September 21 to October 3, 2017, and bottled in June 2019. Aged in 40% new French oak barrels, it carries an alcohol content of 15.0%.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awarded this wine a stellar score of 97 points, noting its "very deep purple-black color" and an array of aromas including "potpourri, forest floor, crushed rocks, Ceylon tea, and licorice." Reviewer LPB described it as having a "beautifully impactful, wonderfully quiet intensity of black and blue fruits," with a finish that includes "long-lasting earthy notes." The wine's firm yet plush tannins contribute to its structure.
James Suckling, also rating it 97 points, emphasized its "very intense aromas of fruit" and the complexity brought by "blue fruit, licorice and blackberries with flowers and perfumes." He highlighted its full-bodied nature and noted flavors of "black tea, currants, and hints of leather and incense." Suckling recommends drinking it from 2022 and appreciates its "extremely long and exciting" finish.
Jeb Dunnuck praised this vintage with another 97-point score, drawing comparisons to "Chateau Lafite-like notes of blackcurrants, lead pencil shavings, cedary tobacco, and gravelly earth." Dunnuck remarked on its "terrific sense of elegance" and suggested that it will improve with 4-5 years of bottle age, potentially lasting 25 years or more.
Wine Spectator, giving it 95 points, described the wine as having a "focused and refined core of cassis, damson plum, and raspberry puree notes," combined with "precise savory, sage, and black tea threads." The review noted the wine's potential to expand with cellaring, recommending it from 2022 through 2040.
Lastly, Wine Enthusiast rated the wine 96 points, highlighting its "luxurious aromas of dried herb, cedar, and clove." Reviewer Virginie Boone described the palate as balancing "rich fruit and dense oak with underlying freshness and longevity," pointing out the "grippy yet seamless" tannins that are beginning to smooth out. She advised that the wine will be best enjoyed between 2027 and 2037.
Overall, the 2017 Dominus Proprietary Red Wine is a highly acclaimed, robust offering with a promising aging potential, praised for its complexity, intensity, and elegant structure.