2021 Dominus Estate Christian Moueix Napa Valley

(98 Points)  --  (Antonio Galloni, Vinous)

"The 2021 Dominus is a powerful, tightly-coiled wine that is holding back quite a bit of reserve. There's real depth and resonance waiting to emerge as the wine matures. Floral overtones and bright acids confer energy to a core of red/bluish fruits. Readers will find a Dominus built more on linear precision rather than opulence. It is hugely impressive in this tasting, with a long chalky finish. Dominus and Ulysses winemaker Tod Mostero is one of the most articulate and thoughtful winemakers in Napa Valley. “The 2021 growing season was consistently warm, but we had no real heat spikes to speak of in 2021, just a day or two where temperatures were above 100 degrees, nothing more than that,” Mostero explained. “Yields were average. Our time on the skins was 20-21 days, maybe a bit less than normal, but not a significant change.” The 2021s have the highest phenolic concentration since 2013." 12/23