B040 DOMINUS NAPA VALLEY 2018 750ml

Dominus Estate produces world-class, Bordeaux-style blends that beautifully marry the rich fruit concentration of Napa Valley with the structure, restraint, and complexity of fine Bordeaux. Sourced entirely from the historic, dry-farmed Napanook Vineyard, the estate focuses on minimalist winemaking to allow the unique terroir of the Yountville AVA to shine. Dominus is the ultimate expression of the estate. This profound, powerful, and deeply complex Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend is celebrated for its seamless structure, polished tannins, and extraordinary aging potential. It is a legendary collectible.

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Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Dominus slowly emerges from the glass with profound notes of blackcurrant cordial, ripe black plums, boysenberries and Black Forest cake with hints of violets, star anise, cracked black pepper, raspberry leaves and pencil lead, plus a touch of garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers impactful black fruit layers, creating a beguiling sense of richness that is beautifully countered by invigorating freshness and great poise, framed by super ripe, plush tannins and beautiful tension, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note and, finally, lots of mineral sparks. For all that it is at the moment, one cannot help but feel that this 2018 is holding something back. Give it a good five years in bottle, at least, and then get set for what I suspect will be a mind-blowing transformation over the next 30 years+.

"This is an example of a cool ripening vintage," Dominus's technical director, Tod Mostero, said. "It was a late season—everything was late from budbreak onward. We started harvesting on October 1st, then we got about an inch of rain, so we stopped, then we started again on the 9th and continued to the 15th."

Proprietor Christian Moueix added, "We thought the elements of the 2018 vintage were very refined, and we wanted to play on that in the wine. It was the wines with a lot of delicacy and precision that went into the Dominus blend this year."

The grace, purity and precision of this 2018 Dominus is absolutely captivating right now. And yet, poised on the brink of perfection, its promise of something more with time in bottle is at the heart of its allure. Embrace this wine for the very fact that it doesn't give you everything up front and all at once. RP99+