91+

Stephen Tanzer

Vinous

(14.1% alcohol): Bright, saturated ruby. Tight, restrained nose hints at blackberry, cassis, plum, mocha, tobacco, licorice and menthol. Dense but quite dry and backward, offering noteworthy breadth and mineral lift but a bit lacking in give and still youthfully subdued. In a rather uncompromising, even medicinal style, with licorice and herb notes leavening the wine's riper plum and mocha flavors. One of the more backward '08s I tasted this year, hiding its sweetness today. More gripping than it appeared to be in the year following bottling but in need of more cellar time to expand. 03/2018

99

Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate

Made in a more masculine style, the 2008 Dominus has all of that along with bigger body and more structure, fat, density and texture. Both are brilliant wines and they represent the finest back-to-back vintages for Dominus since 2001 and 2002 or 1990 and 1991. Both the 2007 and 2008 Dominus should drink well for 25-30 years. This estate, owned by Christian Moueix, includes the famed Napanook Vineyard that was the base of so many of the historic Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignons of the 1950s and 1960s. Interestingly, they have completely eliminated Merlot from the bottling. The 2007 Dominus is a 5,400-case blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. There are 4,200 cases of the 2008 Dominus which is composed of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Lower yields resulted in a denser, more concentrated wine. The remarkable thing about these cuvees is that they smell like a hypothetical blend of a top Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and a serious Bordeaux, possibly a cross blend of a Pomerol and Pauillac. Both wines possess silky sweet tannins, which is the big difference between Dominus post-1990 and the first seven vintages, where the tannin content was relatively high. About 40% new oak is used in their upbringing. 12/2010

95

James Suckling

James Suckling

This is very pure fruit for Dominus. This will be interesting to see how it develops in the future. 2008 was a very small crop. Very perfumed and beautiful, with currants, flowers, and notes of mint. Full-bodied, with round velvety tannins that lead up to a chocolate and ripe berry finish. This is showing great fruit, and a great finish. Structurally this is like a 2005 La Mission. Best after 2014. 06/2011