About Dominus Estate
Christian Moueix, whose family runs Pétrus in Pomerol, came to Napa in 1982 and took on Napanook, a Yountville vineyard first planted in the 1830s and long a source of fruit for Inglenook. He became sole owner in 1995 and named the wine Dominus, Latin for lord of the estate. The style has stayed deliberately un-Californian: Cabernet Sauvignon led, picked before sugars climb, restrained in oak and firm in tannin, built to age rather than to impress on release. Napanook is the second wine. The winery, a long bar of stone gabions designed by Herzog and de Meuron, opened in 1997.
Yountville sits between Oakville and the town of Napa, cooler than the benches to the north. Our Napa Valley Wines and Cabernet Sauvignon pages cover the neighboring estates, and Collectible Wines holds the wider selection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Dominus Estate?
Christian Moueix, sole owner since 1995. His family has long been associated with Pétrus and the Right Bank of Bordeaux, which is the background he brought to Napa.
What is Napanook?
Two things: the name of the vineyard Dominus is grown on, and the name of the estate's second wine. The vineyard dates to the 1830s and supplied Inglenook during its best years.
Why does Dominus taste more like Bordeaux than Napa?
Because it is made that way on purpose. Picking happens earlier than the Napa norm, extraction is measured, new oak is kept low, and the wine is built around structure rather than sweetness of fruit.
How long does Dominus age?
Fifteen years for strong vintages and often much longer. Young bottles can seem severe next to their Napa neighbors, and that firmness is what carries them.