Dominus/Napanook...Christian Moueix's California Petrus

 

 

Dominus/Napanook...Christian Moueix's California Petrus

 

A (6) Bottle Case of the 2005 Dominus (2) and Napanook (4) Napa Valley Bordeaux Inspired Cabernet blends...$485.00

 

Petrus-Dominus a Theological connection (if you took Latin)

 

*Facts: Christian Moueix is the proprietor of Chateau Petrus, the "most collectable wine in the world". The current vintage (2005) retails for around $5,000/Bottle and is rated "96" by Parker in Wine Advocate #176.

*Christian Moueix also produces a Napa Valley counterpart to his famed Pomerol estate called "Dominus". The current vintage (2005) retails for (suggested) $144.00/Bottle and is rated "96" by Parker in Wine Advocate #174.

 

Hmmm...Five Thousand or One Forty-Four...Five Thousand or One Forty-Four...Five Thousand or One Forty-Four...While I realize this is not an entirely fair comparison; you must admit it has some validity.

 

Should you ask Moueix why it is that Dominus sells for a fraction of the cost yet enjoys the same public demand of similarly made, high profile Napa Cabernet based efforts such as Screaming Eagle, Harlan, Colgin etc., he will tell you that "I don't need to charge those astronomical prices because I own Petrus (as well as Trotanoy, Magdelaine and La fleur Petrus) which sells for $5,000.00/Bottle.  I want to give the consumer good value yet offer a top quality Napa Cabernet".

 

In the late 1960's, Moueix broadened his winemaking knowledge by taking enology and viticulture classes at U.C. Davis.  In his spare time he traveled the blue highways of N. California, falling in love with the environment and climate of Napa and Sonoma.  He deduced that he could make a wine of similar quality to that of his famous "St. Peter of Pomerol" in the Napa Valley.  

 

With his families rather deep financial recourses at his disposal (and at the encouragement of Bob Mondavi) in 1982 Moueix partnered with Yountville's Napanook vineyard owners Robin Lail and Marcia Smith to form Dominus Estate.  The first 13 vintages of Dominus were made at neighboring Rambauer winery.  In 1995, Moueix bought out Lail and Smith to become sole owner of Dominus and in 1996 a new, 50,000 sq. foot winery (designed by Swiss Architectural firm Herzog and de Meuron) was built on the site.  The building itself is unique and is composed of Gabions (galvanized baskets) filled with rocks which protect, cool and insulate the interior of the building during summer as well as maintain a comfortable setting during the winter months.   

From the same property Moueix also produces a more approachable-early-on and considerably less expensive wine called "Napanook" which often receives similar ratings as that of his famous Dominus.   The Dominus style is a California-Bordeaux hybrid with the intensity, depth and age-ability of the best of Pomerol, the Napanook is a fruitier version with softer tannins and a more time-friendly nature.

  

Moueix first released Napanook in 1996 with the intention of producing a wine to be enjoyed in its younger years.  Napanook is a blend of the Bordeaux varietals coming from vineyard lots chosen for their finesse, lively fruit and subtle tannins.  The goal is to find the perfect equilibrium between these elements, creating a wine that is harmonious and, of course, pleasurable to drink.  Napanook is intentionally made to be approachable young yet will age approximately 10 years after release.  

 

"Moueix produces his wine "in the vineyard", not in the cellar.  Terroir is a word that is slightly abused today.  The precise definition is the combination of a given climate and a specific soil, and how the two interact.  The Napanook terroir is much more variable than one would expect.  The ranch is 124 acres of which 108 are planted in three different types of soil-the gravelly part (specifically volcanic soil), the heavy clay and the loam.  The goal is to find the rootstock and the grape variety that will best adapt to the aspects of each block.  Both the Dominus and the Napanook are grown solely on the Napanook property...they are "estate" bottled in the spirit of the Bordeaux chateaux.  The ranch is dry-farmed, the ideal manner to allow the terroir to express itself."

 

*"94-96"/RC...The 2005 Vintage in Napa was textbook "excellent" ("95" Parker "92" WS).  At the Napanook Vineyard bud-break and set were ideal, allowing the vineyard personnel to harvest top quality grapes and reduce intervention in the cellar.  The 2005 is dark red, almost deep crimson in color.  The nose is dense and compact, filled with dark berries, blonde tobacco, black cherries and cacao.  The entry is powerful and supple, spherical in quality; perfectly ripe and enveloped in firm, round and elegant tannins.  Black fruit and licorice linger throughout the evolution in the mouth; a superb vintage, this wine clearly has aging potential (as have all Dominus) and decanting is recommended prior to serving to allow the wine to develop its full potential.

 

*Harvest began on September 29th and ended on Halloween

*The 2005 is a blend of 76% Cabernet, 14% Cab Franc and 10% Petit Verdot.

*The wine was aged 16 months in 20% new French oak and bottled in June of 2007.

*A total of 2,500 (6) cases were produced

*The wine was released May 1st, 2008.

 

*"96" Parker..."The 2005 Dominus has come of age, and is one of the strongest efforts they've made.  It is possibly the BEST DOMINUS SINCE 2001, and perhaps even the 1997 or 1991.  A beautiful, sweet nose of roasted coffee interwoven with kirsch, black currant, cedar and spice box emerges from this deep ruby/purple-colored wine.  The wine has fabulous intensity, a layered, opulent, full-bodied mouthfeel, well-integrated acidity and a stunningly long finish.  The layering of this wine as it builds incrementally on the palate is something to behold.  An outstanding, sexy, age-worthy Dominus, it will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring and last for at least 25-30 years.  When I am tasting Dominus, they always present a wine opened the day before and decanted, and one just opened, and the extended aeration version always seems to be the better example of the wine, so plenty of decanting seems to be in order. (Release date ! of summer, 2008)".

 

*2005 Napanook "91" Parker..."The 2005 Napanook, a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot, has turned out to be a beauty.  Four thousand cases of this wine were made, and it exhibits wonderful cedar, spice box, roasted herb and sweet black cherry and cassis notes in a medium to full-bodied style with sweet tannin, impressive texture and silky, long, lush finish.  It should drink well for 10-15 years".

 

Dominus and Napanook have been on a roll throughout the decade.  The 2005s' are both spectacular.  Drink the Napanook while you wait for the Dominus to soften.  $485.00 case of 6...2 Dominus, 4 Napanook.

        

 

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