Iconic Bordeaux blend Californian wine. Probably as famous if not more (to connoisseurs) as Opus One. Always highly rated vintage after vintage! This 2018 scored double 100 pointers from James Suckling and Jeb Dunnuck. And 99+ from Wine Advocate!
Extremely limited compared to Opus One.
In our view, if you wish to add some Californian Bordeaux blend, you MUST collect a few bottles of this in your cellar. We tasted blind many years back and we could not tell that it was a Californian wine! Christian Moueix (owner and manager of the world famous Petrus and other no less stunning Pomerol estates such as La Fleur Petrus, Trotanoy).
Tasting notes:
'This is incredible on the nose, offering hot stones, blackcurrants, iodine and wet earth. Full-bodied with a tight center palate, then it opens with a tannin structure that is weightless and spreads across the palate. Totally integrated on the palate. This is a magic-carpet wine. Really incredible. One of the reference points for the vintage. Drinkable now and please try a bottle, but it’s one for the cellar.' James Suckling 100 pts (Dec 2021)
'The flagship 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon checks in as 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot brought up in 40% new French oak. With an essence of Cabernet-like character in its darker currants, green tobacco, cedar, graphite, and floral aromas and flavors, this gorgeous wine is full-bodied and has bright yet integrated acidity, polished tannins, and a great, great finish. It’s just gorgeously put together and a magical, flawless wine. It's going to take a decade to hit maturity but will evolve for 40-50 years in cold cellars. It is as good as it gets in classic, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon! 2031-2068' Jeb Dunnuck 100 pts (Jan 2021)
'Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Dominus slowly emerges from the glass with profound notes of blackcurrant cordial, ripe black plums, boysenberries and Black Forest cake with hints of violets, star anise, cracked black pepper, raspberry leaves and pencil lead, plus a touch of garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers impactful black fruit layers, creating a beguiling sense of richness that is beautifully countered by invigorating freshness and great poise, framed by super ripe, plush tannins and beautiful tension, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note and, finally, lots of mineral sparks. For all that it is at the moment, one cannot help but feel that this 2018 is holding something back. Give it a good five years in bottle, at least, and then get set for what I suspect will be a mind-blowing transformation over the next 30 years+. 2026-2056' Wine Advocate 99+ pts (Feb 2021)