Dominus Estate Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1997
Available at 11 stores
Ratings on Delectable
Bob McDonald 
Had friends over for lunch on Saturday and had a match off with this 1997 Dominus with a 1997 Wynns John Riddoch - both from magnum. This Dominus I first tried at TriBeCa Grill in New York about 8 years ago and it was a wow wine for me. In fact the best Cabernet I had ever had outside of Bordeaux. No detailed notes but this was more savoury and less fruit driven than I remember. The consensus around the table was in favour of the Riddoch with me as the sole vote for the Dominus. No detailed tasting notes.
Had friends over for lunch on Saturday and had a match off with this 1997 Dominus with a 1997 Wynns John Riddoch - both from magnum. This Dominus I first tried at TriBeCa Grill in New York about 8 years ago and it was a wow wine for me. In fact the best Cabernet I had ever had outside of Bordeaux. No detailed notes but this was more savoury and less fruit driven than I remember. The consensus around the table was in favour of the Riddoch with me as the sole vote for the Dominus. No detailed tasting notes.
9.4
Bill Bender
Didn't wow me. Something was missing and it didn't compete favorably vs most of the competition. A bit hollow, lacked complexity and possessed very little punch or profound fruit. Perhaps it was an off bottle but it wasn't obviously flawed or compromised.
Didn't wow me. Something was missing and it didn't compete favorably vs most of the competition. A bit hollow, lacked complexity and possessed very little punch or profound fruit. Perhaps it was an off bottle but it wasn't obviously flawed or compromised.
8.8
Jay Kline
Flight #2 of our 1997 Retrospective and these were the thoroughbreds. Presented single-blind; no formal notes. Wine #1 had great color, was developing, and probably the earthiest of the group but still had a lovely fruit profile. A really nice balance of fruit and non-fruits. Robust structure. Notably, this was the only bottle in the flight that had Brettanomyces…and while I found it to quite charming, this is what ultimately got me hung up on whether I thought this was the Dominus or the Monte Bello. Ultimately I called the later. I really dig this and wish I could afford more Dominus in my life. Drink now and through 2035.
Flight #2 of our 1997 Retrospective and these were the thoroughbreds. Presented single-blind; no formal notes. Wine #1 had great color, was developing, and probably the earthiest of the group but still had a lovely fruit profile. A really nice balance of fruit and non-fruits. Robust structure. Notably, this was the only bottle in the flight that had Brettanomyces…and while I found it to quite charming, this is what ultimately got me hung up on whether I thought this was the Dominus or the Monte Bello. Ultimately I called the later. I really dig this and wish I could afford more Dominus in my life. Drink now and through 2035.
9.4
LM Segal
Dark and smoky but fading cassis powers a medium-bodied rainbow of red flowers and fruit. So much going on, completely knit and on the verge of its descent. Class on steroids.
Dark and smoky but fading cassis powers a medium-bodied rainbow of red flowers and fruit. So much going on, completely knit and on the verge of its descent. Class on steroids.
9.5
