Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Bright aromas of black currants and lavender with intense pencil shavings and green tobacco leaves followed by roasted coffee beans and cedar. A full-bodied wine that is broad on the mid-palate with firm yet fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. Great depth and length here. Wonderful tension and density as well as harmony.
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Wine Enthusiast
Oozing blueberry richness and chocolaty spices, this full-bodied but relatively soft and plush wine eases onto the palate, soothing the senses and revealing dried cherries, blueberry syrup and cocoa powder on its mouthfilling texture. Deep within are oak char, graphite and espresso flavors that need time to meld with the intense fruits.
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Wine Spectator
This is laden with dark plum and cassis notes that cruise through slowly, laced with graphite, ganache and alder accents, plus a subtle violet echo in the background. There's a fair amount of oak to soak up still, so a little patience is needed. Best from 2025 through 2036. 3,400 cases made.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
One of Napa Valley's most historic sub-appellations, Yountville spreads through some of the valley's ideal cooler sites and enjoys success with a handful of different and significant grape varieties.
Syrah competes strongly with Cabernet Sauvignon here for optimal vineyard real estate followed by Pinot noir, Pinot blanc and Sauvignon blanc.
This sub-AVA of Napa Valley is rich in the history that makes Napa Valley what it is today, and not just for red wines. Moët & Chandon entered the California winemaking business via Yountville in 1973 with the establishment Domaine Chandon. Their goal has always been to produce top quality méthode champenoise sparkling wines.
Christian Moueix, originally responsible for managing Chateau Petrus and La Fleur-Petrus in Pomerol, arrived in Yountville in the early 1980s. He formed a partnership with Rohin Lail and Marcia Smith, inheritors of Napanook vineyard from their father John Daniel of Inglenook in Rutherford. In 1995 Moueix became sole owner of Napanook and chose the name Dominus, which today produces some of Napa’s highest scoring, age-worthy Bordeaux Blends.