Dominus, Napa Valley, Christian Moueix 2020

Dominus is the Californian outpost of famous Pomerol and Saint-Emilion producer, Christian Moueix. Christian Moueix established Dominus Estate on the 43 ha Napanook vineyard in 1983. Situated near Yountville in southern Napa, three wines are produced:

Dominus, its flagship, plus Napanook and Othello. In the late 1960s Christian completed his oenology studies at the University of California at Davis. He then returned to Bordeaux to take up the reins of the family business including managing such châteaux as Pétrus, Lafleur-Pétrus, Trotanoy and Magdelaine. He never lost his interest in California and in 1981 he discovered the historic, 50 ha Napanook vineyard in Yountville in the Napa. The following year he entered a partnership to develop the vineyard and became the sole owner in 1995. He called the estate Dominus. The first vintage of Dominus was 1983, followed in 1996 by Napanook. In 2008 he added a 16 ha site in Oakville, about one mile to the north. Finally, 2012 saw the release of Othello, a more immediately appealing, early-drinking style. There are currently 42 ha under vine at Dominus, all of which are dry-farmed, and work is done across the estate to minimise water loss and preserve the gravelly, clay-loam soils. A winery was added in 1997 which is integrated into the landscape. Cabernet Sauvignon predominates with some Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The grapes are hand-picked and the shaded side of each vine is harvested a few days after the more exposed side. The grapes are carefully sorted to ensure only the best fruit makes it to the vats and it then undergoes a very traditional winemaking and ageing regime.