2013 Dominus Estate Napanook 750ml

97 points James Suckling

Fabulous nose of mushrooms, like porcini, with black truffle that turns to citrus fruits such as orange and tangerine. Some vine bark. Full-bodied yet wonderfully firm and formed with refined and polished tannins. Super definition. (1/2016)

Just as magnificent from bottle as it was in barrel, the 2013 Napanook is dense, powerful and brooding, with searing intensity and extraordinary balance. Lavender, plums, violets, licorice and smoke are some of the signatures, but the 2013 exudes finesse, power and intensity. Bracing and searing, the 2013 is going to require quite a bit of patience. If anything, this is an insane level of quality for the second selection. The 2013 could turn out to be a thirty year old wine. It is every bit that magnificent, especially if given some aeration. (AG) (10/2015)

There are 2,000 cases of the 2013 Napanook Proprietary Red Wine, a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. This wine reflects the much higher quality that’s emerging with the second wine of Dominus, which has really become almost its own entity. Loads of loamy soil notes, grilled herbs, meat, blackcurrants, sweet kirsch and licorice are all present in this medium to full-bodied, lush, sexy wine, even in 2013. (RP) (10/2015)

The estate Napanook is made to be soft in tannin and fresh in fruit. It succeeds in this vintage on both accounts, blending 92% Cabernet Sauvignon with 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, allowing the wine to age in 20% new barrels. Clove, currant, black tea and chocolate-covered raspberry lie luxuriously on the palate, finishing in velvety violet. *Cellar Selection* (VB)  (11/2016)