Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 750mL

A vintage that demanded experience and selection, 2011 was characterized by unusually wet conditions. The growing season began with a cold spring, delaying bloom after an early budbreak. Summer’s average temperatures prolonged the growing season. Rains at the beginning of October precipitated a selective harvest, where our Bordeaux experience of such conditions proved to be very useful. 

Grape Varietals:

Cabernet Sauvignon: 86%, Cabernet Franc: 5%, Petit Verdot: 9%

Tasting Notes:

The 2011 vintage displays fresh almond, wild strawberry and cassis. e wine has delicate notes of smooth caramel.  Polished tannins, dark berries, cocoa and sage accompany a long elegant nish.

96 Points - Wine Review Online, December 2015. "Dominus Estate has become a California icon in barely over 3 decades since Christian Moueix purchased the famed Napanook Vineyard in 1982. The first vintage, 1983, was a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (80%) and Merlot. Over the decades the Bordeaux focus has been constant while the blend has shifted to mostly Cabernet Sauvignon supplemented with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The 2011, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (86%), Petit Verdot (9%) and Cabernet Franc, is a brilliant wine, with minerality and herbal nuances more than fruitiness. For all its intensity, it’s its elegance that marks its stature. Not overdone, the velvety tannins caress the palate while still providing structure. A touch of bitterness in the finish reinforces the grandeur of this wine. In my experience, Dominus develops even more complexity with a decade of bottle age, so I suggest cellaring the 2011."

95 Points - The Wine Independent, March 2023. 

94 Points - Wine & Spirits Magazine, October 2014.