Dominus Napanook Red Blend Napa Valley 2023 HALF

Dominus, or "Lord of the Estate", is Christian Moueix' way of expressing his commitment to stewardship of the Napanook vineyard, a 124-acre site west of Yountville.  A Napa Valley classic, the estate's winemaker Tod Mostero (Opus One, Haut-Brion, Pétrus and Romanée-Conti) has crafted the wines since the 2007 vintage. Dominus is the perfect example of how classic does not necessarily mean clicked-back; with more earth, lower alcohol, and higher acidity. One of the main differences between Dominus Estate and Napanook is actually the side of the row of vines that goes into each wine - the side that gets the morning sun (which, ultimately, gets picked first) goes into Napanook, and the side that gets the afternoon sun, which gets picked last, goes into Dominus Estate. Thus, to say Napanook is a "close second" to Dominus Estate is an understatement.

A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2023 Napanook aged for 20 months in all French oak barrels (20% of which were new).  Tod describes the wine as "silken, vibrant, earthy, layered, cacao, zest, and pomegranate."