Wine Advisor
Dominus Estate (Christian Moueix), Napanook 2013
View analysis
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Readers should seek out the 2013 Napanook (92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc) as soon as it is released. The finest Napanook ever made, it exhibits sweet vanillin, ripe, well-focused blackcurrant and black cherry fruit, cedarwood, spice box and forest floor. Opulent and full-bodied, it was terrific to taste, even from barrel. It should drink well for 15-20 years
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
There are 2,000 cases of the 2013 Napanook Proprietary Red Wine, a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. This wine reflects the much higher quality that’s emerging with the second wine of Dominus, which has really become almost its own entity. Loads of loamy soil notes, grilled herbs, meat, blackcurrants, sweet kirsch and licorice are all present in this medium to full-bodied, lush, sexy wine, even in 2013. It is interesting how much more evolved and forward the 2013 Napanook is compared to the 2013 Dominus. This wine can be drunk over the next 12-15 years. In any event, both merit considerable attention from subscribers.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
Just as magnificent from bottle as it was in barrel, the 2013 Napanook is dense, powerful and brooding, with searing intensity and extraordinary balance. Lavender, plums, violets, licorice and smoke are some of the signatures, but the 2013 exudes finesse, power and intensity. Bracing and searing, the 2013 is going to require quite a bit of patience. If anything, this is an insane level of quality for the second selection. The 2013 could turn out to be a thirty-year wine. It is every bit that magnificent, especially if given some aeration.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2013 Napanook is a great example of just how good the second wines can be in this vintage. Almost impossibly structured and dense for a wine at this level, the 2013 boasts serious depth and richness, with unusually dark fruit, powerful tannins and exotic, spiced overtones. It will be interesting to see if the 2013 settles down over the next year. Today, it is explosive, bursting with energy and flat-out delicious. Hints of licorice, cloves and new leather add the final layers of complexity. There is little doubt the 2013 Napanook is shaping up to be one of the gems of the vintage.
About the Producer
Dominus Estate, Yountville, California, was established in 1983 by Christian Moueix. Situated on the famed Napanook vineyard, it was, in the 1940’s and 1950’s, the source of fruit for some of the finest Napa Valley wines. In fact, the vineyard’s history can be traced back to Napa Valley’s beginnings, when in 1838 George Yount, for whom the town of Yountville was named, first planted grapevines there. Today, this historic vineyard produces three wines: Dominus, its flagship, Napanook, and Othello. Christian Moueix chose the name ‘Dominus’ (‘lord of the estate’ in Latin) to underscore his longstanding commitment to the land. Rooted in values of quality, stewardship, tradition and innovation, the Dominus Estate team shares a vision of producing distinctive wines that are expressive of this singular terroir. The vineyard is entirely dry-farmed, allowing the vines to draw deeply on the land’s unique geology. The viticulture and winemaking are undertaken meticulously, with the objective of producing wines that are pure, balanced and complex. Minimal intervention and restraint throughout the process of grape berry selection, fermentation and aging preserve the character of the fruit. The resulting wines, with a tremendous potential for aging, convey the very personality of this historic vineyard. Known for its complexity and balance, Dominus demonstrates the potential of a wine produced on exceptional terroir. Structured, seamless and perfectly integrated, Dominus is an elegant wine that improves with age. To celebrate the 30th vintage of Dominus Estate, the 2013 label dons a special portrait of Christian Moueix by South African artist William Kentridge. The 2013 Dominus recalls the ‘portrait series’ of the earliest vintages (1983-1990), when noted artists depicted Christian Moueix on the labels. In 2021, Dominus Estate received its CCOF ("California Certified Organic Farmers") certification for organic farming practices.
