1991 Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley

1991 Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley

  • DC 100
  • TWI 99
  • WA 99
Sale price$479.95
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100 Points - Decanter:  One of the first Napa wines that I fell in love with and still going strong at almost 30 years old, with a good long while ahead of it still. This is delicate yet powerful, a wine that just gets better and better in the glass, showing off the black truffle and undergrowth flavours of a fully mature wine with melted tannins, leather, saffron and rich blackberries. It’s intense and balanced, still opulent and sexy. 40% new oak. Harvest in 1991 was October 6 to 18, but even so they harvested a little earlier in those days than they do today. Dominus is in the Yountville AVA (which was granted in 1999) but in 1991 still Napa Valley AVA.

99 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:  As for the 1991, 6,500 cases were produced of this potentially perfect wine. While this vintage of Dominus contains no Merlot in the blend, every time I taste it I am reminded of a great vintage of Petrus such as 1982, 1989 or 1990. Although different, the 1991 Dominus possesses extraordinary intensity, remarkable opulence, and amazing fruit extraction, all welded to a full-bodied structure. The wine's sensational purity and inner-core of depth must be tasted to be believed. The 1991 will be approachable young because of its sweet tannin, yet it exhibits the potential to last for 25 years. Perhaps 1994 will rival it, but for now, the 1991 is unquestionably the greatest Dominus, as well as a potential legend in the making.

99 Points - The Wine Independent (Retrospective):  A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, the 1991 Dominus has a deep garnet-brick color. What a perfume! Glorious scents of stewed plums, dried cherries, and rose oil flow gently from the glass, followed by suggestions of star anise, sandalwood, cigar box, and iron ore. The medium-bodied palate is graceful and incredibly light on its feet, with layers of intense cherry and raspberry preserves accented by loads of exotic spice nuances, textured with silky tannins, finishing long, lively, and fantastically fragrant. So pure!