The 2021 Dominus Estate, "Napanook" Napa Valley Proprietary Red was a Merchant's Pick
Baby Dominus • 97 pts • Not such a baby!
What do $300 Dominus and $80 Napanook have in common? A lot!
One of California's most collectible Napa reds is Dominus, known for its strong Bordeaux-like profile.
And, understandably so.
Dominus Estate was founded in 1981 by Christian Moueix, the then owner of Château Pétrus in Pomerol.
Few people know that Napanook is the younger vines of the estate, which eventually get phased into the primary Dominus bottling.
In the spirit of fine Bordeaux, Napanook is a second wine of the prized Dominus Estate with Napanook fruit from a site-specific part of the Dominus vineyard.
With the same winemaker, nearly identical varietal composition, and made in the same style as its big brother, this Cabernet blend is a no-brainer for Napa fans.
By the way, this is also a terrific Napa vintage, one not to be missed!
If Dominus at $300 per bottle (worth every penny) is a bit beyond your wine budget, then you cannot pass up the 2021 Napanook.
At 1/4 of the price of the flagship Dominus, it is everything but a baby!
Enjoy!