2021 Dominus Napanook Proprietary Red Wine
| Type of Wine | |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Region | |
| Appellation | |
| Winery | |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Grape | , , |
| Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (14%) |
| Drink window | 2025 - 2035 |
| Available as of | Oct 1, 2025 |
Description
When you hear the name Christian Moueix in the wine world, you immediately think of a legend. The famous wines of Château Petrus in Bordeaux and his flagship Cabernet in Napa at Dominus Estate are iconic, practically priceless, and this magical touch continues his work at the renowned Napanook estate. The Napanook is the second wine in the Dominus Proprietary line. The first wine bears the name of the winery, simply Dominus Proprietary Red Wine, and the third is Dominus Othello. Besides the significant price difference between the three wines, another major difference is their accessibility. All are top quality because they are from Dominus, but the Napanook and Othello are made from younger vines.
Dominus Napanook Proprietary Red Wine is a very deep purple-black in color. The Napanook is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot, aged in 20% new oak. A beautiful perfume of violets, anise, truffles, and lavender over a core of warm cassis, blackberries, and ripe plums, plus hints of cedar (cigar box), chocolate, and cardamom. The palate is medium to full-bodied and firmly structured with very ripe tannins, gradually revealing layers of black and blue fruit with abundant earthy notes, finishing with astonishing freshness and depth.
FACT: The Dominus Proprietary Red Wine was voted the best wine in the world by Wine Spectator in 2021.
ABOUT DOMINUS ESTATE
Dominus Estate, owned by renowned winemaker and CEO Christian Moueix (also owner of Pétrus, Trotanoy, La Fleur-Petrus, Hosanna, among others), is part of the Historical Landmark Napanook and is widely considered one of the oldest vineyards (1836) in Napa Valley, California.
The estate was purchased in 1946 by the legendary winemaker and visionary John Daniels and passed to his daughters in 1970. In 1982, they partnered with Christian Moueix, creating Dominus Estate. Moueix purchased all the shares in 1995 and is now the sole owner. The first Dominus wine was released in 1983 and, thanks to Moueix's influence, immediately gained international attention.
Dominus Estate also produces a second wine, Napanook, first released in 1996, and a third called "Othello," an entry-level wine. The estate covers 44 hectares, divided into 14 parcels, primarily planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (87%). However, there are also some Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. The Merlot grape has not been used for the "Grand Vin" since 2002, but it is still occasionally used in Napanook wines.
The winery, built in 1996, is made of stones held together with metal wire and represents the vineyard's terroir. The architectural style is in complete harmony with the landscape and protects against the heat of the day and the cold of the night.
WINES CRAFTED FOR THE AGES: “EVERY GOOD CRAFTSMAN CONDUCTS A DIALOGUE BETWEEN CONCRETE PRACTICES AND THINKING.” RICHARD SENNETT
Specifications
| Available as of | Oct 1, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Packing information | Box |
| Type of Wine | Red |
| Country | USA |
| Region | Californie |
| Appellation | Napa Valley |
| Winery | Dominus Estate |
| Grape | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Drinking as of | 2025 |
| Drinking till | 2035 |
| Alcohol % | 14 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 94 |
| James Suckling rating | 95 |
| Tasting Profiles | Complex, Donker fruit, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Tannines, Vol |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe |
Professional Reviews
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 94
Reviewed by:
Joe Czerwinski
Release Price:
$100
Drink Date:
2025 - 2040
Certainly the best Napanook bottling I can recall, the 2021 Napanook is a 3,000-case blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Boasting harmonious aromas of raspberries, red and black cherries, cinnamon, clove and dusty earth notes, this full-bodied wine tips the scales at a declared 15% alcohol, yet it shows no detectable heat. It is full-bodied, intense, rich and velvety, with hints of black tea on the long finish. Matured in 20% new French oak, it stands out for its lush mouthfeel and savory complexity.
Followers of the Napa Valley scene will no doubt already be aware that Dominus didn't release a 2022. The extreme heat that struck Napa around Labor Day and extended for a week or so took its toll on the dry-farmed vines in the Napanook Vineyard surrounding the winery. "There's nothing we won't do to make the wine as good as we can," said Director of Viticulture and Winemaking Tod Mostero. Ultimately, he didn't feel the wines were up to the estate's exacting standards.
In contrast, Mostero said, "Twenty-one is one of those vintages that's easy to talk about because we can characterize it pretty simply. It was a dry vintage. … Drought years are usually our best years—because we're dry farmed, the plants set less foliage. The summer was warm, not hot. … Post-veraison was moderate, without heat spikes. In August and September, we had a couple of low-100-degree days but nothing dramatic. Harvest extended from September 16 through October 1."
The three wines reviewed here roughly represent three different sectors of the vineyard, with Othello being drawn from the front portion of the property, with the highest proportion of silt and clay. Napanook derives from the blocks just behind the winery, while Dominus itself comes from the stoniest blocks furthest from Highway 29, pushed up against the Mayacamas.
Published: Feb 27, 2025
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
James Suckling
DOMINUS NAPA VALLEY NAPANOOK 2020
Monday, March 6, 2023
CountryUnited States
RegionCalifornia
Vintage2020
CHECK PRICE
DOWNLOAD SHELFTALKER
Score
95
Aromas of currants, blackberries, fresh mushrooms and flowers. Medium-bodied with compacted fruit and integrated, fine tannins. Ripe fruit with reserve. Attractive and alluring. Excellent structure. 88% cabernet sauvignon, 7% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot. Give it at least five years to open and soften, but very attractive now.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
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Wijnhuis
Dominus Estate, owned by famed winemaker and CEO Christian Moueix (also owner of Pétrus, Trotanoy, La Fleur-Petrus, Hosanna, among others), is part of the Napanook Historical Landmark and widely regarded as one of the oldest vineyards (1836) of Napa Valley, California. The estate was bought in 1946 by the legendary winemaker and visionary John Daniels, and passed to his daughters in 1970.
In 1982, they entered into a partnership with Christian Moueix, which resulted in Dominus Estate. Moueix bought all the shares in 1995 and is therefore now the sole owner. The first Dominus wine appeared in 1983 and immediately gained international attention thanks to the influence of Moueix.
Dominus Estate produces a second wine, Napanook, first marketed in 1996, and a third called “Othello”, an entry-level wine. The domain covers 44 hectares, divided into 14 plots with mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (87%). However, it also says some petit verdot and cabernet franc. The merlot grape has not been used for the “Grand Vin” since 2002, but is still occasionally used in the Napanook wines. The winery, which was built in 1996, is made of stones held together with metal wire and represents the terroir of the vineyard. The architectural style is completely in harmony with the landscape and protects against the heat during the day and the cold at night.
The vineyard's origins at the Napa Valley cult winery Dominus Estate date back to 1836, when it was known as the Napanook Vineyard. This makes it one of the oldest vineyards in California, and therefore also in the United States. Napanook later became part of the Inglenook winery, which in turn became the property of California wine pioneer John Daniel in 1946. After his death, his daughters Robin Lail and Marcia Smith inherited the 44-hectare Napanook vineyard in 1982 and asked oenologist Christian Moueix to partner with them. At the time, Christian Moueix was director and winemaker responsible for top Bordeaux wine estates such as Petrus, Château Trotanoy and Château La Fleur-Pétrus. With the first vintage 1983 of this new Californian
winery Christian Moueix chose the name Dominus Estate. The fact that Christian Moueix has pledged his heart to Dominus Estate, of which he has been the sole owner since 1995, is apparent from his total dedication and commitment to achieve the ultimate result. Dominus is a wine with a clear Bordeaux aristocracy with the use of grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
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When you hear the name Christian Moueix in the wine world, you immediately think of a legend. The famous wines of Château Petrus in Bordeaux and his flagship Cabernet in Napa at Dominus Estate are iconic, practically priceless, and this magical touch continues his work at the renowned Napanook estate. The Napanook is the second wine in the Dominus Proprietary line. The first wine bears the name of the winery, simply Dominus Proprietary Red Wine, and the third is Dominus Othello. Besides the significant price difference between the three wines, another major difference is their accessibility. All are top quality because they are from Dominus, but the Napanook and Othello are made from younger vines.
Dominus Napanook Proprietary Red Wine is a very deep purple-black in color. The Napanook is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot, aged in 20% new oak. A beautiful perfume of violets, anise, truffles, and lavender over a core of warm cassis, blackberries, and ripe plums, plus hints of cedar (cigar box), chocolate, and cardamom. The palate is medium to full-bodied and firmly structured with very ripe tannins, gradually revealing layers of black and blue fruit with abundant earthy notes, finishing with astonishing freshness and depth.
FACT: The Dominus Proprietary Red Wine was voted the best wine in the world by Wine Spectator in 2021.
ABOUT DOMINUS ESTATE
Dominus Estate, owned by renowned winemaker and CEO Christian Moueix (also owner of Pétrus, Trotanoy, La Fleur-Petrus, Hosanna, among others), is part of the Historical Landmark Napanook and is widely considered one of the oldest vineyards (1836) in Napa Valley, California.
The estate was purchased in 1946 by the legendary winemaker and visionary John Daniels and passed to his daughters in 1970. In 1982, they partnered with Christian Moueix, creating Dominus Estate. Moueix purchased all the shares in 1995 and is now the sole owner. The first Dominus wine was released in 1983 and, thanks to Moueix's influence, immediately gained international attention.
Dominus Estate also produces a second wine, Napanook, first released in 1996, and a third called "Othello," an entry-level wine. The estate covers 44 hectares, divided into 14 parcels, primarily planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (87%). However, there are also some Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. The Merlot grape has not been used for the "Grand Vin" since 2002, but it is still occasionally used in Napanook wines.
The winery, built in 1996, is made of stones held together with metal wire and represents the vineyard's terroir. The architectural style is in complete harmony with the landscape and protects against the heat of the day and the cold of the night.
WINES CRAFTED FOR THE AGES: “EVERY GOOD CRAFTSMAN CONDUCTS A DIALOGUE BETWEEN CONCRETE PRACTICES AND THINKING.” RICHARD SENNETT
| Available as of | Oct 1, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Packing information | Box |
| Type of Wine | Red |
| Country | USA |
| Region | Californie |
| Appellation | Napa Valley |
| Winery | Dominus Estate |
| Grape | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Drinking as of | 2025 |
| Drinking till | 2035 |
| Alcohol % | 14 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 94 |
| James Suckling rating | 95 |
| Tasting Profiles | Complex, Donker fruit, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Tannines, Vol |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe |
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 94
Reviewed by:
Joe Czerwinski
Release Price:
$100
Drink Date:
2025 - 2040
Certainly the best Napanook bottling I can recall, the 2021 Napanook is a 3,000-case blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Boasting harmonious aromas of raspberries, red and black cherries, cinnamon, clove and dusty earth notes, this full-bodied wine tips the scales at a declared 15% alcohol, yet it shows no detectable heat. It is full-bodied, intense, rich and velvety, with hints of black tea on the long finish. Matured in 20% new French oak, it stands out for its lush mouthfeel and savory complexity.
Followers of the Napa Valley scene will no doubt already be aware that Dominus didn't release a 2022. The extreme heat that struck Napa around Labor Day and extended for a week or so took its toll on the dry-farmed vines in the Napanook Vineyard surrounding the winery. "There's nothing we won't do to make the wine as good as we can," said Director of Viticulture and Winemaking Tod Mostero. Ultimately, he didn't feel the wines were up to the estate's exacting standards.
In contrast, Mostero said, "Twenty-one is one of those vintages that's easy to talk about because we can characterize it pretty simply. It was a dry vintage. … Drought years are usually our best years—because we're dry farmed, the plants set less foliage. The summer was warm, not hot. … Post-veraison was moderate, without heat spikes. In August and September, we had a couple of low-100-degree days but nothing dramatic. Harvest extended from September 16 through October 1."
The three wines reviewed here roughly represent three different sectors of the vineyard, with Othello being drawn from the front portion of the property, with the highest proportion of silt and clay. Napanook derives from the blocks just behind the winery, while Dominus itself comes from the stoniest blocks furthest from Highway 29, pushed up against the Mayacamas.
Published: Feb 27, 2025
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
James Suckling
DOMINUS NAPA VALLEY NAPANOOK 2020
Monday, March 6, 2023
CountryUnited States
RegionCalifornia
Vintage2020
CHECK PRICE
DOWNLOAD SHELFTALKER
Score
95
Aromas of currants, blackberries, fresh mushrooms and flowers. Medium-bodied with compacted fruit and integrated, fine tannins. Ripe fruit with reserve. Attractive and alluring. Excellent structure. 88% cabernet sauvignon, 7% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot. Give it at least five years to open and soften, but very attractive now.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Exclusive Content
Sign in to unlock professional wine reviews from world-renowned critics
Dominus Estate, owned by famed winemaker and CEO Christian Moueix (also owner of Pétrus, Trotanoy, La Fleur-Petrus, Hosanna, among others), is part of the Napanook Historical Landmark and widely regarded as one of the oldest vineyards (1836) of Napa Valley, California. The estate was bought in 1946 by the legendary winemaker and visionary John Daniels, and passed to his daughters in 1970.
In 1982, they entered into a partnership with Christian Moueix, which resulted in Dominus Estate. Moueix bought all the shares in 1995 and is therefore now the sole owner. The first Dominus wine appeared in 1983 and immediately gained international attention thanks to the influence of Moueix.
Dominus Estate produces a second wine, Napanook, first marketed in 1996, and a third called “Othello”, an entry-level wine. The domain covers 44 hectares, divided into 14 plots with mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (87%). However, it also says some petit verdot and cabernet franc. The merlot grape has not been used for the “Grand Vin” since 2002, but is still occasionally used in the Napanook wines. The winery, which was built in 1996, is made of stones held together with metal wire and represents the terroir of the vineyard. The architectural style is completely in harmony with the landscape and protects against the heat during the day and the cold at night.
The vineyard's origins at the Napa Valley cult winery Dominus Estate date back to 1836, when it was known as the Napanook Vineyard. This makes it one of the oldest vineyards in California, and therefore also in the United States. Napanook later became part of the Inglenook winery, which in turn became the property of California wine pioneer John Daniel in 1946. After his death, his daughters Robin Lail and Marcia Smith inherited the 44-hectare Napanook vineyard in 1982 and asked oenologist Christian Moueix to partner with them. At the time, Christian Moueix was director and winemaker responsible for top Bordeaux wine estates such as Petrus, Château Trotanoy and Château La Fleur-Pétrus. With the first vintage 1983 of this new Californian
winery Christian Moueix chose the name Dominus Estate. The fact that Christian Moueix has pledged his heart to Dominus Estate, of which he has been the sole owner since 1995, is apparent from his total dedication and commitment to achieve the ultimate result. Dominus is a wine with a clear Bordeaux aristocracy with the use of grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
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