California Napa Valley Dominus 1997
Dominus 1997 is a red wine from Dominus Estate, produced in Napa Valley, California. This cuvée brings together Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, sourced from the historic Napanook vineyard in Yountville. The vintage was harvested from September 4 to 26, then aged in 40% new French oak barrels. The estate describes a wine with a deep ruby color, marked by ripe cassis, spices, and mineral nuances, whose powerful substance rests on broad, silky tannins.
Identité du vin
- Couleur
- Red
- Pays
- Etats-Unis
- Région
- Californie
- Appellation
- Napa Valley
- Producteur / Domaine
- Dominus Estate
- Cuvée
- Dominus
Cépage et assemblage
- Grape Variety
- Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot
Dominus Estate
Dominus Estate is a vineyard in Yountville, in California’s Napa Valley, founded by Christian Moueix in 1983 on the historic Napanook vineyard. The vineyard, with a declared area of 42 hectares, is planted mainly with Cabernet Sauvignon, supplemented by Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It is cultivated without irrigation and has been certified organic since 2021.
- Owner
- Christian Moueix
- Maître de chais
- Tod Mostero
- Surface (ha)
- 42.00 ha
- Production (average bottles per vintage)
- environ 7 700 caisses/an
Histoire du domaine
The history of the Napanook vineyard dates back to the early days of viticulture in Napa Valley: George Yount planted vines there in 1838. In the 1940s and 1950s, this vineyard supplied grapes for certain Napa Valley wines. In the late 1960s, Christian Moueix discovered the Napa Valley whilst studying at the University of California, Davis. In 1981, he identified the Napanook vineyard, situated to the west of Yountville. He became involved in its development in 1982, before founding Dominus Estate in 1983. Christian Moueix became the sole owner of the estate in 1995. The winery, designed by architects Herzog & de Meuron, was completed in 1997. The estate now produces Dominus, Napanook and Othello wines from its 42-hectare vineyard. Tod Mostero serves as technical director and head of winemaking. In 2021, Dominus Estate was awarded CCOF organic certification.
Dominus
Dominus is the iconic wine of Dominus Estate, originating from the historic Napanook vineyard in Yountville, Napa Valley. This Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend seeks the expression of the terroir, controlled power, complexity, and aging potential.
- Origin of the cuvée name
- Christian Moueix chose "Dominus", meaning "master of the estate" in Latin, to emphasize his enduring commitment to the land.
- Cuvée creation year
- 1983
- Style of the cuvée
- A deep and structured red blend, combining precise fruit, polished tannins, elegance, complexity, length, and aging potential.
- Position within the range
- The estate's iconic wine and prestige cuvée, positioned above Napanook and Othello.
Histoire de la cuvée
Christian Moueix began producing Dominus at the Napanook vineyard in 1983. The 1983 vintage was the first cuvée produced, but its tannic structure led the estate to first release the 1984; the 1983 was finally released in February 1989 after additional bottle aging.
