2006 Dominus Estate
By Dominus
2006 Dominus Estate from Dominus, Napa Valley, USA
With the gift of hindsight in our tasting glasses, the 2006 Dominus Estate from Dominus stands as an emblem of elegance and poise from a vintage too often overlooked. Dominus Estate doesn't merely represent the best of what Napa Valley can produce; it underlines the unique confluence of terroir and climatic circumstances that gift us these exceptional fine wines from the USA.
Revisiting 2006: A Unique Vintage Statement
The 2006 season in Napa Valley was marked by a sterling Indian summer, allowing for an unhurried harvest, delivering exquisite maturity without sacrifice to acidity. Yet in this harmonious balance lies the true excellence of the 2006 Dominus Estate.
This expression reflects its vintage parentage with an admirable showing of power and refinement. Expect a core of Cabernet Sauvignon–modestly bolstered with traces of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot–that reveals layered spectrums of dark cherry, marzipan, and tobacco nuances.
The Investable Allure of Dominus Estates
Dominus' ability to translate vintage variations makes their offerings more than compelling investment consideration pieces. It veers them into the realm of trophies worth stashing away, primarily for their promising evolution witnessed throughout their timeline–better yet as seen in this 2006 installment.
This is no blockbuster wine, but rather a measured tapestry woven with masterful subtlety–and age has only accentuated its charm. A delightful counterpoint for many Napa wines famous for their flamboyance.
A Wine That Elevates with Age
This has been true since its inception and only becomes more prevalent as time trickles on—a journey into an olfactory and flavorful odyssey that will continue to shape this wine into something even the winemaker might not have imagined.
Hold onto a bottle of the 2006 Dominus Estate – it's one of those investments that brings immense pleasure with time, promising more than mere financial returns but also an evolving landscape of sensory delight. This exceptional dominance, this is what Napa Valley, and indeed, the art of investing in fine wine is really about.
To say the 2006 Dominus Estate from Dominus will stimulate your palate is an understatement. It is a poetic symphony of flavors that eloquently unfolds with every sip, an unforgettable saga about the uniqueness of a single vintage in grand Napa expression.
Market price (GBP)
£2,200.00
12x75cl
Highest score
96
POP score
137.5
Scores and tasting notes
There are 6,500 cases of the superb 2006 Dominus (91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot). Its dark plum/purple color is accompanied by aromas and flavors of truffles, forest floor, black cherries, black currants, and Asian spices. One of the finest wines of the vintage, it is complete, full-bodied, and seamlessly built with beautiful ripe tannins, low acidity, and a luscious, layered mouthfeel. The aromatics are even more evolved and complex than the 2005's. The 2006 should drink well for 20-25 years. Christian Moueix, Dominus’ owner, has purchased the 35-acre Swanson Vineyard, which is situated between the well-known California bistros, Brix and Mustard’s. I suspect that will result in a third label from Dominus. At present, the production from these large holdings in Yountville is approximately 10,000-12,000 cases, with the second wine, Napanook, representing 3,500-4,000 cases, depending on the vintage. It is ironic that Christian Moueix, the great Merlot specialist at his flagship chateaux in Pomerol, especially Petrus, prefers the other Bordeaux varietals at his Napa property. Interestingly, when I visit Dominus, they always open a fresh bottle and serve it alongside a bottle that has been decanted for 24 hours. On each occasion, the more complex, open wine is the one that has had 24 hours of aeration, something buyers of this wine should take into consideration. These are the two strongest back to back vintages for Dominus since 1990-1991 and 2001-2002. Tel. (707) 944-8954; Fax (707) 944-0547
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 21 December 2008