Dominus Estate

Dominus Estate

Napanook Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2019

Have to agree with the other ratings here. Great wine ! — 9 days ago

Ted, LM and 6 others liked this

Jarvis Winery

Estate Grown Cave Fermented Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Shay A
9.4

On my first trip out to Napa (2015), Jarvis was one of the favorites, and so we went back in 2016 and again in 2018. We go to Napa every year, and it’s one of the only wineries we have visited multiple times.

This was part of a retrospective on 2012 Napa cabs, alongside Shafer HSS, Scarecrow, Morlet CdV, Bryant DB4, Dominus, Pulido Walker Melanson, Kapscandy, Buccella Cuvee Katrina Eileen and others. Definitely the most restrained.

For some reason, I always get a streak of green peppercorn on all of the reds from Jarvis. It’s not off putting, just a signature of the winemaking. I’ve never found these wines to be overblown/high alcohol. They aren’t quite Bordeaux like, but they are clearly in between current Napa style and a restrained bridge to Bordeaux. This 2012 was true to the above. Aromatics here has green peppercorn, tar, underripe black fruits and a very fragrant potpourri note. Even after being open a few hours this was strong with zippy acidity surrounded by pepper crusted blackberries, mocha, black cherries and even some leather (not Brett driven, though). Blind, maybe someone takes this to left bank Bordeaux in a ripe vintage…but the kiss of sweetness is hard to take away from Napa. Wonderfully delicious and complex Cabernet starting to enter a great drinking window.

— 2 years ago

Matt, Tom and 39 others liked this
Paul K

Paul K

Hey @Shay A ! I’m going to be in Dallas the week of April 16th and was hoping we could share a bottle that Thursday, or Tuesday, night. Drop me best way to contact and coordinate if it works on your end! All the best -Eli
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Paul K : Cool! Send me a text and we’ll see if we can make it happen. 325.660.6180
Paul K

Paul K

👍

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2015

Another try at this one after a few years and mostly the same result for me. Solid if not spectacular. It needed an hour to open and significantly improved but it was a less impressive mix of earthiness and mature fruit than I have been expecting based on reviews. — 21 days ago

Paul, Jose and 18 others liked this

Liparita

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1991

Incredible. Had low expectations and this was as good as Dominus easily — 3 years ago

Severn, Shay and 6 others liked this

Araujo Estate

Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

This wine was our unanimous winner in our cult Cali blind tasting held back in 2012 against some big hitters, Dominus, Shrader, Shafer Hillside etc. Med bodied in an opulent style with good balance & length showing notes of blackberry, creme de cassis, forest floor, graphite, licorice & violet. — 4 years ago

Severn, Ryan and 13 others liked this

Hundred Acre Vineyard

Ark Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Friday...time for a break from the war on the coronavirus...and time for a WINE WAR! Both bottles have practiced years of social distancing in the cellar...there is no vaccine to stop this wine war either

2008 Hundred Acre...a true Napa modern style of rich tannins, liberally oaked, and picked late and ripe at 15.5% alcohol.

2008 Dominus..more old world style with firmer tannins, prominent acidity, more earthy and herbaceous...not as approachable young..at 14.1% alcohol.

Let the decanting begin...check back later tonight for the winner!

We have a winner! 9.4 for the Hundred Acre and a 9.3 for the Dominus....though if compared again in a few years, I believe the Dominus will be on top.....it just needs a few more years to fully come together.

Hundred Acre..dark ruby red color. Nose: sweet cherries, spice box, graphite, plum all jump from the glass. Taste: ripe cherries, espresso, cinnamon, plum..with a nice long finish and no reason it could not go for 10 more years.

Dominus..deep dark garnet color. The nose is a bit muted but the palate is singing. Nose: cherry, charcoal, floral, creme brulee. Taste: A creamy smooth mouthfeel of black fruit, chocolate, licorice with nice round tannins. Not over the top, drinking well, but a wine I believe will be even better in a few years.
— 4 years ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Paul and 20 others liked this
Eric

Eric Premium Badge

Nice battle.
Sharon B

Sharon B Influencer Badge

I like the wine war much better!

Abreu Vineyards

Madrona Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Pure blackcurrant perfectly articulated with dark chocolate, blue fruit and pipe tobacco. Mostly cab that made me think older Dominus, a Bordeaux style in Napa. In a perfect place with a few hours in decanter. — 5 months ago

Vino, Alan and 22 others liked this

William Cole Vineyards

Cuvée Claire Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

One of the best wines I have ever enjoyed. Just wow. It surpassed my 1994 Dominus benchmark. — 3 years ago

Shay liked this

Carpe Diem

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

By Dominus. All Napa Valley fruit. — 3 years ago

Ron, Shawn and 1 other liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 1976

WNH Zoom tasting #3 on 4/5/20. The theme was “10 years old or more” and I opened this after what I’d call a false start with a ‘96 Dominus Napanook. The cork was a bit soggy and difficult to extract and a sour nose greeted me as I decanted to remove a fair amount of sediment. But once the air hit it this wine spread its wings. It comes off as a hypothetical Volnay/Rioja blend as if there were such a thing. Mature warm red fruit, strong notes of rhubarb, cranberry preserves and sour raspberry mash. Very slight green notes but not in a negative sense. There’s still youthful exuberance here. This isn’t one of those “it’s drinking great for its age” wines it’s straight up exceptional. Great house. Great wine. Hell yes. Happy Bicentennial 🇺🇸🍷 — 4 years ago

Bill, Shay and 58 others liked this
Severn Goodwin

Severn Goodwin Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Bill Bender Oldest one we've had on this same bottle was a '90
Aaron Hamrock

Aaron Hamrock

I really enjoy that vintage. So many great Spanish wines fly under the radar. Good for us.