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1994 Dominus (750ml)
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Out of stock
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Vintage: 1994 Format: 750ml Wine Name: Dominus Red Vineyard: Napanook Designation: Appellation: Napa Valley Producer: Dominus Varietal: Red Bordeaux Blend Type: Red Country: USA Region: California Sub-Region: Napa Valley Alcohol:
Tasting note: Dark-hued, rich and intense, deftly balanced, with a pretty array of ripe currant, anise, black cherry and plum. Concentrated, with firm tannins, it finishes with a bold, rich aftertaste that shows off cedar, sage and pretty earthy nuances.--California Cabernet '74/'84/'94 retrospective. Drink now through 2009. 8,500 cases made. (91pts. JL, Wine Spectator)
Tasted: Nov. 15, 2004 Score: 91 Drink: Through 2009
Tasting note: Christian Moueix and his talented winemaking team continue to rewrite the definition of a Napa Valley reference point wine. I have had a difficult time keeping the corks in my bottles of 1994 Dominus. Eight-thousand cases were produced from a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot. In this vintage, 174 days passed between bud break and the harvest, a remarkable period of time for any wine region in the world. The 1994 is a strikingly thick, compellingly rich wine with the texture of a great Pomerol, despite being made primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine exhibits a dense purple color, and an incredibly fragrant nose of jammy black fruits, spice, smoke, and loamy, truffle-like scents. In the mouth, it is full-bodied, with thrilling levels of extract and richness, but no sense of heaviness or harshness. This seamless Dominus possesses no hard edges, as its acidity, tannin, and alcohol are beautifully meshed with copious quantities of ripe fruit. This wine offers early drinking, yet has the potential to last for 30+ years. On what I suppose is a distressing note, I have noticed huge demand for Dominus in recent auction activity. At a Sotheby's auction on October 25, Dominus fetched prices of $23,150 for one imperial of 1991, and $10,450 for two 1991 double magnums. Although none of this is the fault of anybody at Dominus (blame Christian Moueix and his team for producing profound wine) if this trend continues, I wonder how any true amateurs will be able to afford the wine. (99pts. Robert Parker)
Tasted: Dec. 1997 Score: 99 Drink: 1997-2027
Tasting note: Saturated deep red-ruby. Knockout nose combines currant, Cuban tobacco, earth, tar, bacon fat, cedar, leather and game; conveys an impression of totally ripe, almost roasted fruit. Lush and sweet; already offers extraordinary inner-mouth flavor and great depth. One of those rare wines that too big for the mouth. Finishes with great velvety texture and magical persistence. Mouthdusting, building tannins coat the entire palate. (97pts. Stephen Tanzer)
Tasted: July/Aug 1999 Score: 97 Drink: N/A
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