Still excellent. Enjoyed on the beach in Mexico with some good steak.
A couple of years in, this is showing a more savory character, with more floral and vegetable flavors than fruits with noticeable eucalyptus and menthol. It’s actually more savory than I would prefer but an excellent wine nonetheless. Very very long finish.
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Intense nose with lots of fruit, dark berries, cassis, blackberries, tobacco, and earth. Medium acidity with quite a bit of tannins, black cherries, and more blackberries and tobacco on the palate. Finish is quite long. This is a rich, ripe, and big wine but it's actually quite balanced. Still, it feels much too young. I would hold for another 10+ years. 93+
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The nose started out with spices, smoked meat, mocca, a hint of eucalyptus, pencil. After a few minutes, a stunning fruitiness started to emerge. A hint of cassis at first, building and building, until it was imbued with gorgeous forest fruit, a bit of jam, while underneath there was all this tertiary complexity. It took me a long time to even consider taking the first sip.
The tannins were utterly refined and vibrant, soft acidity and a tiny bit of chocolate-bitter.
Then another evolution when aromas of black olive and undergrowth started to develop. So much going on, and all so integrated. Really really refined and delicious.
In its perfect drinking window right now. No decanting, just followed it in the glass.
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Two bottles of this wine were opened the first one seemed a little Bretty but maybe that is just how the wine is? The second one had this sweet and sour texture, nearly BBQ meet in terms of flavours. Not sure which was good which one was not, disappointing.
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Dégustation Spottswoode avec Beth Weber Novak: Après une première bouteille bouchonnée, notre ami Daniel en produit une seconde, qui s'est avérée magnifique malgré le peu d'aération.
Belle droiture, un vin racé, enrobé et gras, avec une vague parenté bordelaise, mais le côté résolument hédoniste de la vallée de Napa. Puissant mais raffiné, très bonne longueur. Grand vin et un des meilleurs Dominus que j’ai pris. 96 pts
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2002 Dominus Estate. Despite being the oldest napa wine I've had in the last couple of months, this may have been the freshest/youngest wine of the whole lot. This wine could easily rest five more years and not miss a beat. Very austere and Bordeaux at times. I think I even commented, "You can take the maker out of France, but you can't take the France out of the maker." The only tip off to me was the higher fruit character and lack of the cedar/leather/cigar box note that would be present in a true left bank wine. 97-98+
Smooth and supple and drinking beautifully now. Long session and enjoyed the communion with the wine. This is all muted dark fruits and a walk through the forest and easy drinking. Pleasure. Lacking certain dimensions and I have to say I thought once or twice why not just drink a good Bordeaux w some bottle age to have that dialogue with the terroir rather than a facsimile (all relative re QPR). Still a really nice bottle and favorite Dominus to date.
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Tasted double blind. My guess was right bank Bordeaux from a ripe vintage. While not as classic Bordeaux-esque as the 80s and early 90s Dominus, this still is on the good side of things in terms of ripeness and earthiness – even in a hot, ripe vintage like 2002. A great wine and thanks to the powerful fruit and ripeness it did show well even after 20 wines and with an almost numb palate.
TN: Intense but not overly precise bouquet displaying dark berries and truffles at the core. On the palate loads of herbs, minerality, perfectly complementing the ripe dark fruit core. The structural frame was quite good with melted tannins, high tension, good acidity and an overall wonderful balance.
Decanting: Not decanted, no extensive decanting needed
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Blind tasting dinner. Much better than 10 years ago when I had this wine the last time. Beautiful and mature, ripe but the ripeness is well integrated now, forest floor. I guessed Bdx from a warm vintage and not Napa.
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dominus simply delivers everytime at almost every vintage. on the nose it reminded me a lot of bordeaux, just a touch more light and fresh. elegant and full of pleasure and high drink flow.
characteristicly this had a touch of vegetable aromas followed by some pepper and paprika.
would profit from decant.
my style, id almost say that i lile this even more than a ripe bordeaux. the freeshness is unmathed.
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Reluctant wine, more French than Californian. Deep color, elegant nose. After some time and a lot of air: Blackberries and red currant, espresso. Medium finish. More elegance than fruitiness. All in all very conservative.
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NY Wine Experience 2022; 10/20/2022-10/23/2022 (Marriott Marquis): So very young. Lots of big fruit. Almost no age here (at least could tell the '06 had had 16 years - this feels almost like it could have been released last year). Perhaps a bit less depth to it. Wonder how it will evolve longer term.
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Decanted for 30 minutes and consumed over 4+ hours. Beautiful nose of Bordeaux, herbs, and earth. Palate was seamless, well built, no slowing down to the finish. Elegant, subtle, French oak well integrated, slight chocolate on the finish. Absolutely gorgeous.
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Decanted for one hour. Nose of blackberry, currant, cedar, anise and forest floor. Ripe blackberry, currant, cedar, leather, licorice and crushed rock on the palate. Very long, layered finish with excellent depth. Medium to full bodied. This was exquisite. Drinking very well. Served with beef Wellington.
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Served blind. I was all over the place with my guesses. But we had some smart red wine palates at the table who helped center this to Bordeaux, left bank. Wrong! This showed a cool mix of what to me seemed like a new/old world marriage of flavors. The California sun reflected in the wine, with some ripeness that was integrated and showing very well. Yet, there was cedar, pencil shavings and one remark about olive. Overall, this was drinking great for me and remaining fresh and balanced, along with aging well at almost 20 years.
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Decanted two hours. This is stunningly good. Ripe black currant and cherry, tobacco and herbs comes through. This is a little riper than this wine usually is but it works as it still shows some of its trademark bordeaux character. Very elegant with silky tannins and a long satisfying finish this keeps giving and giving. This will be excellent for at least the next ten years
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Ripe, round and luscious, with layers of deep, dark red and black fruits, opulent textures, and waves of ripe, juicy, sweet fruits in the finish that continue through to the back end. If I was being picky, a touch of heat intrudes in all the sweet, fruits and licorice that linger in the finish. This is really showing well. Perhaps 30 minutes of decanting works here, but as it is about to hit 20 years of age, the wine is developed and ready to go.
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Decanted this for about 7 hours before drinking. No lightweight, but more elegance than power, which was surprising but very enjoyable. This is very good drinking at the moment, but still pretty early in the development of its tertiary characteristics. I think I’ll save my other bottles for a little while …
Fairly deep russet color, showing its age a bit, but not too much.
Quite a pronounced nose of blueberries, earth, tobacco, flint and asparagus. Clearly a complex wine.
Higher acid than expected (M+), with mounth filling and persistent, but soft tannins. Full body and a good long finish. Still plenty of fruit - blueberry and black currant - balanced by just a little vegetable (the asparagus) and mint with tobacco, leather and truffle on the finish.
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Mini Dominus Vertical 87/95/02/15. No notes taken. This is my first 2002 Dominus and it met my high expectations. Very expressive with layers and layers of ripe but pure fruit, lots of earthy notes, minerality, herbs, spices and first tertiary notes of tobacco, wet earth and truffles. The structural frame is impeccable with a wall of fine tannins, a high and well-rounded acidity, a nicely creamy texture, no excess weight and a long and expanding finish. This is a masterpiece in the making but I guess this will at least need another 10 years to reach its peak, lose some more baby fat and develop more tertiary aromas to balance the sweet fruit core. The 96 pts today reflect all that greatness but if I would have to choose one bottle to drink on my own today, it would be the 1995 (rated 95 pts) and the 1987 (rated 94 pts) as too much of the 2002 might be overwhelming.
Decanting: This needed a bit of air to settle down. My guess is that 1-2 hours in the decanter will do the job.
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Sublime... After opening 2 hours earlier.. Shared with great friends.. Medium to full body... So elegent and balanced for the year... Just love Dominus when it is given enough time..... Didn't fade at all!
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WOTN (arguably) Great arrangement of bottles here, the Dominus picked up where the Cos left off, ramping up the black fruit with intense blackberry. Touch of oak on the nose and palate. This wine is superbly balanced and just in a smashing place right now. Finishes well, just not quite the length you expect in a 5 star bottle. That's a quibble, honestly. Fantastic.
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Attractive nose of mocha, dark fruit, anise and minty cool and calming aromas. This wine is now fairly evolved with a multi dimensional body, excellent and attractive acidity, layers of attractive fruit and chocolate and a zippy lengthy finish.
Quite delicious in drinking window but no rush. Is excellent!
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Extraordinary. Drank with friends after a splash pour+ 10 minutes. Dark ruby with no sediment, this wine is in a fully mature sweet spot. Relentlessly assertive nose of black cherry, raspberry and dark chocolate, this drew gasps from the table upon pouring.
If not 100 points, it was very close. If you have any of these babies cherish for very special friends. 5-10 years of exceptional drinking ahead. If a date, this was a 35 year old former lingerie model Harvard MBA, currently working as an elite escort: Beauty and brains to create a memorable evening.
1 hour decant pre dinner at Press Napa This wine is in a great place Elegant and balanced . The age has added just the right amount of tobacco on the finish while not overpowering the fruit. The Cab fruit isn’t predominant so it drinks like a good aged Bordeaux , but there’s nothing but first growths that have this definition, complexity and fruit in the 20 yo category ...IMO
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Very dark center, garnet rim. On the nose black- and blueberries, some pepper and some cedar. Still quite a bit of fruit left on the bouquet.. On the palate still quite closed and tannic, bitter impression; a bit on the lean side. This wine did not come across in a favorable light tonight. I think they overdid the tannins which need at least another 5 years to soften down and more fully integrate. I am not persuaded that the latter will ever happen as the wine, at this age , is not balanced. Disappointing.. Reading the tasting notes of others, I wonder if my wine was off... Will never know as this was my only bottle. On day 2: from a half bottle, decanted off the previous night: On the nose the fruit has come more to the foreground and the smell more expressive. The palate side has also improved: Tannins more subdued and better interwoven with the wine. A different kettle of fish now. Still a bit tannic but I have a more more favorable impression of the wine.
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not blind, Best vintages of Dominus, all bottles perfectly stored (subcription) and decanted for 2 hours In a flight together with 94. It Looks not fair but it Shows nicely the difference between Cali vs Bordeaux. This is a modern Blockbuster. Powerful, not elegant, you feel the fruit is controlled by the oak. in 10 years again. 95+
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Not my type of wine, that much is clear (but not many Cali/Napa wines are on the other hand. I need to avoid buying, since it never delivers) This has gone from rather excellent (for a Cali/3:d world wine) to not good. Opened and decanted for 3 hours. Bottle is not flawed, this is just the way the wine is made - lack of real origin. No good stuffing, fruit is to sweet and extracted, wine is overall way too hot and unbalanced. Resins, sweet and extracted, smoked and torched bourbon styled vanilla from the barrels, anus and loads and loads of alcohol. No complexity at all, just too much of everything, completely lacking any signs of any fines what so ever. Used the remains for a red wine sauce, but not even that turned into anything good.
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Few hours of air. Drank in Grassl 1855. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of cedarwood, black cherries, blackcurrant, cassis, menthol. Developed. On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol (14%), fine high tannins, full bod. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of sweet cedarwood, ripe bell peppers, menthol, cinnamon spice, cassis, licorice, blackcurrant, black cherries, blackberries, salty earth. Long finish. Very good quality. Complex and classic. Feels like a 2nd Growth Bordeaux. Probably at peak already, and will hold this peak for another 4-5 years before starting the gradual decline.
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Checking my previous notes on this amazing wines the last time I had the Dominus 02 was 7 years ago. My patience was certainly rewarded. The wine has definitely evolved although at a glacial pace. Used Coravin to pour circa half the bottle in a decanter and aerated for an hour and drank over 2. Blackish crimson very dense wine. On the nose blackberries and spices, plums and hints of licorice almost reminiscent of Angelus. Very powerful yet velvety entry on the palate, amazing structure and complexity mid palate and perfect balance and acidity, the wine finished with very fine and sweet tannins, and a long mocha tinged finish. Still have the other half of this bottle to drink along with my remaining 3 bottles. Next one in a few years!
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Spectacular! Fan of Dominos for decades, been enjoying the early 90s vintages of late, and a few 01s and 97s recently. The 2002 however is truly unique -- per RP, similar to the 94 in stature (perhaps also the 90 and 91 but not enough data-points) but reminded me of the 2004 Harlan -- one of my ATFs -- jammy, smoky, earthy, red and black fruit, cedar and perhaps coffee/vanilla. Hedonistic but balanced and complex. Gorgeous Napa, wow. Realized I have a few mags and a 3.0L. These should age beautifully, excited to drink these over next 5-10 years.
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One of the best bottles from this case I had so far. Uncorked three hours before drinking the wine open up nicely in the glass. This is a monument with a great elegance, balanced, warm body and distinct acidity. Still very present and good to go for another 5-10 years.
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85% Cab Sauv, 8% Cab Franc, the rest Petit Verdot. 14.1% ABV. Not great on day 1 but actually quite good on days 2 and 3. Mid-weight, but it's good fruit and brings velvety well-integrated tannins. A nice, long, juicy finish.m A 93 on day 1 and 95 on days 2 and 3.
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Dominus Dinner (Formento's - Chicago IL): Similar to the 2001 in the next glass, but slightly riper and less complex or nuanced. I haven't had this wine since shortly after release, and am very happy with how it has developed.
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Extraordinary. Drank BYOB with friends at a French restaurant. Dark crimson purple with little sediment, this wine is mature + in a sweet spot now.
Beguiling nose of black cherry, plum + Asian spice with faint mocha backdrop. Long long finish makes Ben Hur seem like a Saturday night Rom-com.
If a date, this was a 38 year old regional manager who prides in her mesmerizing sexual charm and your helpless response to her advances. Breakfast was the best meal of your life.
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Double decanted for 2 hrs, deep ruby, lovely black cherry with a touch of vanilla on the nose although the palate was a little restrained, med. tannins, long finish; outstanding, drink or hold (I suspect that a little more time will get the palate to fully open up). Went beautifully with prime rib & very slightly edged out the 00 Lynch Bages.
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Liquid nirvana for the palate. Completely balanced dark fruits, acidity and super fine tannins with a hint of chocolate after swallowing. Couldn't ask for more.
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Mothers Day !!! Well Mummy likes that !!!! Fantastic red , which you can t put on one of the Old world / New world sides . Dark fruits , herbs but also leather , forest , acid , tannin, everything is here. And all in balance !!! After 3 h of decanting it was a point . Try one now or hold for 97+
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Dinner Group (@ Zarzo, Eindhoven, The Netherlands): Garrigue and red and dark berries in the bouquet. Beautiful sweet spices as well. On the palate red and dark berries, cherries, good acidity and soft tannin. The fruit is still youthful. What a great wine again.
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Decanted about an hour and a half and could have used more. One glass each at a dinner for six. Wonderful aromas of blue and red fruits which follow on to the medium to plus palate. The acidity was balancing, and the tannins were resolved, but there was an element of green pepper/eucalyptus that seems (from other TNs) to haunt this wine. Should hold for several years.
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Courtesy of m/m tlv, double decanted about three hours before dinner. Aromas of vanilla, lavender and dark fruit- cassis and currants- in the bouquet and on the palate. Still quite firm and youthful. Iodine/rare beef, dark fruit, violets and even a touch of cedar too, with a nice green streak as well. Plenty of upside here- this just needs some time.
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Double decanted about three hours before dinner. Nose of cedar and lavender, with a touch of iodine near the end. Finish is a bit shorter than expected, but that’s a bit of nitpicking.
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cooked red strawberries, plums and cigar box/cedar. Full bodied and so smooth on the palate. Tannins are mellow and agreeable. Perfectly elegant and Bordeaux-like, an extremely well made wine.
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PNP at dinner Cucina Urbana Great nose of Red berries and herbs. Initially beautiful on the palate with soft and balanced flavors of red berries and herbs. Just the right amount of heat acidity and fruit, cherries, plum The finish melts away a little too early and stronger flavors in food overwhelm it. As the wine ox’s during dinner it improved. The flavors of cassis and oregano and finish became more evident and it held up better The finish has a tinge of eucalyptus, that melds well with the lingering berry fruit
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Gave this 91 on day 1 when it could have used, but didn't get, a decant. 93 on day 2 when it was open, rich, tannins resolved and very pretty cab flavors with textural richness and some complexity. Good example of 02 quality though not as wonderful as the very best from that year (Insignia comes to mind). The experience on day 1 suggests either giving this another year or two, or a short decant on opening.
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Decanted 2 hours. Very good bottle. Wonderful nose. Last bottle a few month ago was a bit better (94 pts) but this still was delicious. Ready to drink but still a lot of life left. 93 pts.
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Tampa Spring Break III; 2/16/2018-2/18/2018 (Tampa FL): 9/17 wines tasted double blind. My guess here was Napa Cabernet or Bordeaux Blend. This was expressing a classic napa profile to me and with riper fruit but still had good balance.
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Very fine showing. Would drink in the next year as it seems at or just past peak. Nose has generous amounts of tabacco, dust, and cassis. Fruits of cherry, plum are forward but nicely balanced with a layered acidity. Finish is of wonderful length - we’ll over a half minute and migrates as the acidity fades.
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Decanted 2 hours. Very good bottle. Wonderful nose. Perfect balance of friut and acidity. I was surprised, this seemed much younger than it is. This will last 10 more years (in a good cellar). 94+ pts.
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Game dinner with friends: Red and ripe fruits in the bouquet. On the palate a perfect balance between acidity and sweetness. Full bodied and yet elegant. Great and harmonious wine with a good length.
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Magnificent stunning juice. Still vibrant and youthful with 5-10 years of amazing drinking ahead. Has all the same stunning qualities discussed in my previous note.
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Dark red. After a 45 minute decant, an elegant nose. Palate of cassis, currants, anise, and charcoal. 50-second finish. Plenty of fruit still to emerge after 2 hrs, so I would expect lots of life left. Lovely!
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She still has a lot of life. The fruit is rich but mellow and the tannins silky. Beautiful wine. Probably will last a few more years, but is lovely right now. If i had more, i would drink it now.
This wine is definitely ready to drink. Tannins are very soft; even a bit too soft (the wine is lacking a bit of structure). The nose is nice, albeit less expressive than what I was expecting. Palate is well balanced, with a fairly long finish. Drink now!
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Decanted for an hour. It's been 3 years since my last bottle and this is still intense. The fruit has faded leaving earth, espresso, dark chocolate, truffle. The tannins still have a bite that settles down after the decanting. Full bodied, strong finish. This has years to go.
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Nose is extremely Bdx., and nice. Dusty gravel, green herbs, licorice, cassis, grassy and dry. Palate with creme de cassis, cherries, sweet licorice, medium acidity, smooth, but with alcohol heat on the finish that somewhat brings down the overall impression and balance. Much better than the 2007 in the flight before this one. No rush to finish. (90 – 92)
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Bright garnet color, reticent nose. Nice linearity for Cali cab, and while the fruit is subdued as expected, surprisingly lacking the floral elements of the classic 90's vintages. A fine bottle of wine to consume now, but seems to be enough acidity and just enough fruit to check back in 3 years to see if it becomes more interesting.
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Fabulous++ Fully mature deep ruby with zero sediment. Brooding deep nose of black cherry, white chocolate and Asian spice. Fantastic palate coating mouth feel with 30 second finish.
American Cabernet rarely reaches these exalted heights.
If a date, this was a 20 year old PhD lingerie model who discusses global economic policies and trade flows over dinner before taking you back to her place and giving you an around-the-world bedroom experience. Highly recommended if you can locate some
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A huge wine. Unbelievably full body and saturation. This is just starting to open up but ideally needs anther 10+ years. The nose is a bit restrained but the tar and licorice flavors are deep and complex with a long finish. The tannins are really fine and beautifully integrated.
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Rated 93 points only for where it is now, not for where it will be in about 10 years. There is an absolutely purity and balance here to suggest this will be a stunner in 10 years. If you are looking for the '94 Dominus, you won't find it in the '02 vintage. First off, there is no trace of brett in this wine like there is in the '94. Secondly, the ripe vintage of '02 is definitely evident at the moment. While there is a Bordeaux element with the herbaceous nose and finish, I would never pick this as Bordeaux blind due to the touch of vanillin, creme de cassis, and sweetness on the finish. Nevertheless, it has a great nose and finish. I'm just used to Dominus being a dead ringer for Bordeaux and I didn't experience it tonight. Glad I have a few more in the cellar, but will not touch them for another decade.
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Continued to open up after 1 1/2 hours in the decanter. Green pepper flavors succumb to more complex earth herbal tones. Powerful nose, long finish. Enjoyed with grilled lamb chops and mac and cheese.
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i really enjoyed this a lot. super smooth and so pretty. very sweet nose and core of fruit. more medium bodied. no heat and good balance of fruit with tannins. very smooth finish. not as bordeaux like as prior dominus, but nice that this isnt an overlayered heat bomb.
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A unique and signature Napanook profile of green peppers and peppercorns. Very easy to identify as a Dominus by this signature (possibly confusable for an Opus)...Sorry to say that I think that in the recent past, the wine has created more extract, higher ratings, and possibly losing this very appealing signature...On a bright note, I tend to think that this signature is still very evident in the second wine with a smaller price tag...Still vibrant and fresh...Drink or Hold
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Simply superb. Decanted for eight hours. Tasted next to a 2001 Dominus, which it edged out due to a voluptuous quality that the 2001 lacked. Tied with a 2002 Ramey JC Cab as my WOTN in a group of 20.
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Still seems a bit closed even after a slow ox of 2-3 hours. Opened up over the evening but I was opening for a bit more fireworks. Would probably hold off again for 2-3 years.
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Nice but way overrated . Still tannic but not much body, nice taste of prune but still astringent. Some length but nothing wow here! Totally not understanding why Robert Parker gave this such a high rating. For the price, one can do way, way better!
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A Matter of Taste: London Edition (Saatchi Gallery, Chelsea): I just be missing something reading all the other reviews. This wine was definitely not the same for me as others seem to have experienced. Nice but not worth the price and the press.
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A Matter of Taste: London Edition (Saatchi Gallery, Chelsea): A ripe and herbal nose, complemented by a diverse spice palate and some fennel; intense and concentrated mouthfeel, with black cherries, plum and soy, rich and sort of Pomerol-esque, a bit of an outlier in this flight, but a rewarding one.
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On Lot 10 wine dinner (On Lot 10): Popped and decanted for 3 hours, the wine pours an inky purple with very thick long legs. Almost like squid ink. On the nose, a pungent and powerful bouquet of cherries, raspberries, eucalyptus, leather, truffles and damp earth. Very unctuous structure with a mineral backbone. Big and broad, as you would expect from a Napa cab, with flavors of stewed red fruits, leather, mushrooms, peppers and thyme. A bit green on the palate for some reason. The majority of the tannins are integrated, though some minor rough edges still exist. Minimal acidity here, probably being dwarfed by the huge extraction. Long and complex finish, lasting almost a minute! What a crazy wine.
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Rich Bordeaux blend at an all cab dinner. Took hours to open up but when it did it was masterful. Notes of oak and licorice with dark fruit. Long on finish. Great wine.
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Dominus Master Class - A matter of taste (Singapore): Dark purple. Expressive nose of dark fruit, licorice and cassis, hits of eucalyptus too. On the palate this one is ripe and sweet, just like the 2008, too sweet for my taste. I miss the precision and sappyness on the palate. May be if you are used to Napa CabSav this one will appeal to you more than the 01 and 06.
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"Matter of Taste" - Dominus Masterclass (Singapore Art Museum Glass House): Nose of ink, iodine. Much more concentrated/masculine than the '01. Very fresh and structured with a strong tannic spine. Balanced with "enough" fruit extraction to make this still enjoyable at this point in time. A bit drying towards the end. Longer than the '01.
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Dominus Master Class - A matter of taste (Singapore): Similar in style to the 2001 but a bit bigger and bolder. A touch more red and dark fruit covering the tannins here. According to EM this is 85% CS, 8% CF, 4% PV and 3% Merlot
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Clarence's Birthday 2014 (Extra Space): Slow-oxed in bottle for about 1.5 hours before drinking. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, purplish ruby colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of blackberries and blackcurrant, with hints of chocolate. Developing. On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol, fine high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours ripe blackberries, blackcurrant, cassis, licorice, and spice. Long finish. Very good quality. Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This is a more restrained kind of Napa style rather than a fruit bomb. However, at this point in time, I feel it is still quite tightly wound up. I would have preferred to have enjoyed this bottle with a longer air time in a decanter. Otherwise, hold onto this for another 5 years before re-exploring.
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I love this wine which really have you fooled in a blind tasting. People keep going back and forth between Californa and Bdx. Still quite young and with another 10 years it will gain in complexity. Today very appealing on the nose and powerful on the palate - yet intergrated and balanced. It was up against a 2002 Ch Mouton, 1961 Ch Siran and an astonishing 1961 Ch Haut Batailley. Dominus - as always - stood its ground. No need to hurry on this one though again - it will get alot better with more age.
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Very bordeaux in structure, a nicely blended wine, but I think has a fair amount of cabernet to it. Friend said he detected tannins, which seems to bode well for aging. fruit was not faded either. Cork was stellar, one of the best hard and dense corks I've seen so far in California cabernets. no rough edges at all. Agree with other tasters, not a blockbuster like I expected, but very nicely balanced. Recommended.
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This was pitted against a 2002 Rudd, a 2002 Arietta H Block. This was Parker rated a 99 point wine but was less of a Napa blockbuster than I thought. However, after many hours it really showed it's layered strength. Truly a wonderful wine but not the big Napa Cab expected. Cedar notes, leather, red berries. Long finish.
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We brought this to a dinner with friends, each of us bringing a bottle of wine. Decanted for an hour while we drank their bottle of wine and then poured. This kept developing over the 2 hours we drank it (a long dinner, closed the place down) until it was just amazing. Seamless, full bodied, currant, espresso, dark chocolate, sage. 30 second finish. I kept the ranking at the same level as my last bottle 5 months ago but I think this is conservative. Still has a long life ahead and I'm going to try and hold the last couple of bottles for a few years. I just do not understand the reviews in the low 90's. This bottle simply blew away the 2001 cos estournel which was very good also and was definitely the WOTN.
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Huge points in WA.. worthy of 99??? Not quite. Super concentration without being over-blown. Ripe blackcurrant, with a deep intense colour. Plenty of stuffing - reckon 4 hours in the decanter next time around.
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Drinking much better than the last time. A great cross between Napa and Bordeaux. Very elegant. Tannins well integrated. Black currants, mild chocolate, hints of sweet tobacco. Did have sediment but was very silky. Can last more many more years but no need to wait...the window is here
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Popped and poured at dinner. Nose of cedar, roast boysenberry, some leather and traces of truffle - dark fruit jams, cassis, roasted boysenberries, and a trace of tobacco immedaitely accessible through mid-palate tannins - settled down after 45 mins glass time yet enjoyable throughout. Decant the next one after 2-3 years. This bottle was a 'only' 92 because we didn't properly stand and decant. Outstanding
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Opened 3 hours before celebration dinner and than drank over next hour. Three people were drinking and all three went wow at the first sip. Silky, full bodied cross between Napa and Bordeaux. Currant, roasted herbs, au jus, dark chocolate with a finish that complements it perfectly. Hint of tannins and a perception of youth should signify a long life ahead but it has definitely hit its stride. Improved a point from my last bottle 3 years ago. This is why I collect wine to find that wow factor.
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4 bottles left and not touching these for another few years. After a two hour decant, wine is still very youthful with gripping tannins in the finish. Still a lovely powerful and structured right bank Bordeaux style wine with all the truffles, blackberries, and spicy complexity a top wine can command.
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Slightly disappointing after not trying this wine since the beginning of the year; I was expecting a bit more given Parker's upgrade of this wine to a 99 pointer. However this is still a beautiful Bordeaux style California Cab wine but requires 3 hours of decanting / aeration. See previous notes.
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Brought with to restaurant. Decanted about two hours, still tight in the beginning but better over course of the evening. Deep purple, nice boquet, nicely integrated. Think it could still use some time in the bottle, but nice now.
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Decanted 5 hrs. I don’t get a chance to drink too many Napa’s in this price range, but ‘a can’t turn down offer’ came my way for the 02 and 07 vintages, and based upon the slew on positive CT feedback, this seemed as good a time as any to pop the cork on the 2002. The all too obvious comparisons between a cross between Bordeaux and Nap was certainly was accurate, and in a certain sense, it sort of gave me writers block in writing the note. That being said, the richness of the perfectly ripened cabernet fruit was beautifully offset by a satiny texture and mouth feel, impeccable precision really. I drink a fair amount of WA State cabs that deliver the hybrid of old world meets new, but nothing that is quite at this level. Outstanding.
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A real showy wine with intoxicating perfume on the nose. Plush mouth feel, delicate and finessed with good concentration of red fruits and currant. Has a lower intensity finish, with well resolved tannins, and there's decent acidity holding this together. In a good place right now. Well balanced and age appropriate wine, bridging the gap between old and new Napa very nicely as an 02 should after ten years.
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1st time tasting napa wine.very bordeaux style.nice structure with abundant primary fruits.finishing with some oaky taste.veri smooth tannins.tis bttl nd plenty of time.a veri nice wine indeed
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Wine like this make me think I need to be drinking more California Cabernet Sauvignon. Still deep in color, with rich, ripe, plush textures and an opulent nature, the wine is filled with chocolate, blackberry, licorice, coffee bean, earth, black cherry and tobacco notes. At 10 years of age, this is just now starting to hit its stride.
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After seeing RP's comments on the 2002 Napa tasting I remembered I had a couple bottles of this wine. RP commented it was close to perfection. Decanted and drank over about 5 hours. Took about 90min to get going. Reasonably fragrant nose of dark fruit, tobacco and leather on the nose. Seems very young. The palate matched the nose with flavors of dark fruits, plums, leather and a little earth. All primary flavors and full in the mouth and very silky. Definitely drank more like a Bordeaux than a CA Cab, but as others have said there is just something that lets you know it's from CA. Medium finish. A nice wine and I look forward to trying this again in a few years.
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San Antonio Wine Geeks; 4/13/2012-4/14/2012 (Tre Trattoria): Nose was rather closed initially, but later a touch of vanilla, currants, bell pepper. Palate was rather focused but rather flamboyant in it’s expression black currants with cedar spice and subtle eucalyptus. The finish is where this really shines, still showing plenty of primary fruit, mocha and toast with fine tannins that turn a little dry. Great concentration and balance. Similar profile to the ’92, as I can see the green/herbal notes changing to mint in time, but this seems to have more concentration. Drinking pretty well now but on the upswing. 92-94
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Riper stylistically than cabs from the mid 90s. Very nice none the less. I suspect this wine will improve with another 5 years of patience. I didn't get the green notes mentioned by others. Day 2 - Just excellent today. Fleshed out, toasty coffee notes. Lingering long finish. +2 pts.
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Beautiful wine. Had the wine breathe for 3/4 hours before drinking. Very deep on the opening long aftertaste with the usual dark fruits and chocolate taste. Did not rate it higher because I could not find the complexity and structure from other Dominus vintages yet. This wine has at least a couple of years to evolve. Still a great experience for an impeccably made wine. I was told that Pott from Pott wines actually vinified this excellent bottle.
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Purchased at PA state store for <$100, knowing the risk of improper storage. Ullage into the neck and the cork didn't crumble. Decanted x 3 times and sat for a total of 2 hours before first taste. Drank over 4 hours. Nose: expressive classic cab fruits with obvious barnyard/green notes. Palate: a little fruit, some chocolate, but a lot more backbone with manly earth, leather, and greens/mint. medium body with firm acid and silky tannins. Opened up over the meal and evolved in the glass. In retrospect, would have decanted for at least 4 hours before starting to drink, but that said, I don't see it achieving the level of fruit that other reviewers are mentioning. I'd pop the cork on this now at the risk of losing more fruit over time.
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Beautiful wine, same notes as previous bottles, needs 4 hours of decanting, lovely balance, refinement, very pretty and rich nose, fat entry, rich palate with black fruits, floral notes, truffles, nice chocolate / mint finish. Always a treat
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I keep going out on a lim scoring the wine better than most recent CT reviewers; I can't help it I love this wine. See previous notes. With 3 hours+ decanting truly a beauty. Drink on!
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quite green ' rosemary like. fruity but not too expressive on nose. high but kicking acidity. aldeaidic in mouth, alcohol well felt. full body, bit bitter
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2nd Technical tasting course #5 (Wine Road Tel-Aviv): (blind tasting) dark red some black, transparent, not oxidized yet earth, mildew, Bret, leather, green rich & complex aroma Bitter, smooth, chocolate, spicy, some sweetness - seems a Cabernet Sauvignon. Med-balanced acidity, full body, tannic & bitter, pleasant harmony, long aftertaste.
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over 4 hours this got better but it was pretty flat on the fruit. Tannins settled but still the wine was flat when finished, just never seemed to open up.
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Excellent. Decanted two hours. At opening alcoholic on nose, unbalanced. After a couple hours settled down. Great nose. Tannins silky smooth. With more depth it would have been high 90's. (Doris 92. Great wine)
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Powerful and fragrant nose of plums, licorice, alcohol. Flavors of dark fruits, plums, leather, earth. Slightly hot on the finish. Well integrated tannins. Would have liked more depth in this wine. A nice introduction to Dominus! Excellent with steak. (Doris 90. big wine). #1 vs 2001 Ciacci Piccollomini d'Aragona Vigna di pianrossa
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deep ruby. intense nose of blackcurrant, blackberry, mint, cedar. Quite jammy on opening, but more lifted a few hours later. mouth very balanced, nice freshness and long piercing blackcurrant and balsamic notes. soft tannins. this was very nice and despite the monumental nose goes well with food.
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Outstanding wine, decanted for 3 - 4 hours, lovely balance, great nose of black fruits, truffles, plum, slightly flowery fully reflected on the palate. Beautiful crimson color with black core, barely any signs of ageing. Rich, full bodied, fills mid palate with fruit and a very nice and fulfilling finish. This wine is definitely open for business.
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Very good to outstanding Napa red. Clear appearance; deep intensity; ruby color. Clean nose; pronounced intensity on the nose. Aroma characteristics include powerful fruit notes, such as cherry, blueberry, black currant, and plums. Spice notes are also evident, with coffee grounds and subtle oak. Also a bit hot after warming in the glass. Palate is dry; low acid; low to medium tannins that have softened with bottle age. Flavor characteristics match the aromas perfectly. Medium to long finish. The wine is well-balanced and is drinking perfectly now, far better than two years ago.
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Blind tasted against a Phelps cabernet Napa of the same vintage. Decanted 90min. Temperature of service : 15*C. Dark color with orange borders. Nose of cherry and blueberry(with both the fruity and fresh acid herbal sides), light oak finish. Mouth smooth, coffee and fresh black fruits and gentle sappy end. Integrated tannins. Elegant and fine wine but not huge. I felt a Bordeaux style with a good proportion of Cabernet Franc, so answered Pomerol 1996, thinking it's a good year.
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Decanted for 2 hours. Sappy, discreet nose with kirsch, blueberry, coffee and alcohol. The palate was still quite closed but round, harmonious and elegant with dark fruits, black olive and stalky tannins. I initially gave it 92 for its restraint and elegance. Tasted again from the same bottle every night (inert gas spray to preserve) for the next few nights and by day 4 it was much more open, showing more Napa character and so velvety in texture so I upped the score. If I had more I would wait 5 years or decant in the morning to drink that night. This is a superb wine!
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I love sipping this wine along with some mild colby cheese. What a great match. It has superb fruit flavors, extremely round, nothing out of shape. Soft tannins, mild oak spices .. what comes to mind is simple serenity. VERY Bordeaux-ish. So sorry that was my last bottle of the '02 but glad to have several more of several other vintages just waiting to be old enough to enjoy.
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Based on CT recommendations, we decanted for 3 hours. Beautiful wine with a nose of cassis, smoke, and spices. This is one of the most elegant Napa Valley reds I've tasted. It combines power with finesse. Delicious. Will likely hold our last bottle for 5+ more years to see how it develops. Bravo to Dominus!
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Nice balance. Good fruit but a bit subdued right now. May be going through a dumb phase right now because this has been a blockbuster wine for a Dominus in past tastings.
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(Drank at Antrim 1844 in Taneytown, MD.) Mark me down as one of the believers. A deep, solid, weighty red that gives me the impression of a young and newfangled Left Bank Bordeaux. It's showing lots of cassis and alluring spices, backed by easygoing tannins. It's long and lush. Maybe it's one-dimensional, but it's oh-so-addictive anyhow. Gone before you know it.
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Wine tasting at Janet's (Chicago, IL): Big, bad Napa cab. Just exactly what you expect. Huge nose of cassis and cream, but somewhat vapid on the palate. Unexceptional, especially for the price point.
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No decant. Although good, the wine was uninspiring. Everything in small doses and the finish quite short. Will do the next bottle better justice with a proper decant and hope for an improvement. 50+8+7+17+7=89+
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2 hours was all that was needed for the wine to find its balance. What elegance, beautiful dark ruby color, outstanding nose of truffles, dark black and red fruits. Great entry, rich and full in the mid palate and beautiful finish with a hint of mocha / chocolate and mint. Pure finesses. Drinking beautifully but I'll hang on to my remaining bottles for a while.
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Having mediterranean lamb tonight. Opened and decanted toward a 2 hr decant as recommended by Izzy. Poured some into a glass for tasting. Color is dark purple, venous blood like, but somewhat translucent from center to edges. Legs showing moderately at this point. Immediate nose of bell pepper, dark fruit, and reminds me a great deal of some of the better vintages of Jordan which exudes the pepper when first opened. This wine is exclusive to the Napanook vineyard in Yountville which I don't have much experience with. While the pepper dominates, the alcohol doesn't and there is a nice balance between the pepper, leather, tobacco, earth, chocolate, very herbal at this point, pencil lead, slate. After several minutes a sweetness emerged with vanilla and honey. The beautiful thing here is the lack of 'over oakness' common in many California Cab blends. Velvet on the tongue with a pepper and spice quality I really like settling into finely intergrated tannins with nice balance of fruit and acidity. Medium to full bodied at this point. I will stop here and return with notes in a couple of hours after which I will score the wine.
2 hours in. Mellowed greatly. Pepper on the nose is minimized, color deepened, legs became bold and structured. Fruit began to present with dark chocalate, honey and cream. Well it would have been nice to let this open for several hours but alas we couldn't contain. We left just enough to taste tomorrow.
Day 2 absolutely wonderful. Tannins smoothed nicely and the wine retained its elegant velvety mouth feel without loss of fruit or structure. All gone now, sorry! One final note about the comparison to Jordan. In its day it was equisite and this exceeds any Jordan I have ever had in the last decade of vintages. Truly this wine stands in a class by itself, just ask Izzy :-)
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For my birthday dinner, wanted a great bottle of wine. Opened this at 9:30am and then decanted at 5:30pm for dinner. Still tight. Finally opened up after another hour. Great nose and incredible concentration of flavors. Black currant, dark cherry, dark chocolate, truffle. Full bodied with a long finish. Good backbone of silkly tannins. This still has another 5-10 years development in the bottle before it reaches maturity. Wonderful wine.
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Took a long time to open up. Woody, herbal and medicinal upon opening. Decanted for two hours which provided much benefit. Rewarded with dense dark fruit. Mineral, mint and black currants. Long finish with medium tannins. Still plenty of time on this one.
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Wow! Dark purple. Expressive and complex nose with graphite, cassis, cedar, spices and capsicum. Mid-full bodied, perfectly structured with firm but fine grained tanins, opulent fruit and balancing acidity. Everything is in perfect harmony here. A great combination of power and elegance. Long finish. Has a long life ahead but it is already so seductive. A masterpiece in every sense of the word.
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Deep ruby with very narrow rim. The nose was exuberant! And elusive.. Every whiff and the aromas were different! Astonishing purity of fruit, rasberries and blueberries and then graphite. Could not guess that this was a Cabernet blend, no cedar for me.. In the mouth it was pure silk, lingering with amazing freshness and elegance. An astonishing wine, to drink now or cellar for 20 more years.
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Dark purplish black; pencil, sweet tone, masculine, deep deep blackberries; seems slightly closed even after some time in the glass. Not as "giving" as the Ridge Montebello also tasted
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2005 Syrah Horizontal representing 4 continents (Casa Tomek): Tasting note from memory of a heavy drinking night. Dark and well balalnced, definitely get a leafy character coming through on the nose (I suspect from the cab franc component). Definitely still some structure to this wine, but concealed well by the fruit. I need to try this again with a clear head, as I had nearly 2 btls of wine before this glass.
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Lovely nose which really dragged you into the wine with its hints of dried fruit, sweet pastries and warm fruit compote. A nicely balanced wine, not overtly fruitforward which offered up a very pleasant finish with notes of raisins and butterscotch. I still think this wine could use a few years before it reaches its peak.
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20 Years of Dominus - Part 6 - The Early 2000s: A big stylistic shift from the 2001 vintage to the 2002 vintage. Raspberry jam, very primary, black fruit, some tree bark, but some odd acidic twinge that seemed slightly forced. Might turn out to be a great wine, but it's definitely different from it predecessors.
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Bright aromas of currants, coffee beans, with some floral notes as well Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Solid. Needs time. (Best from 2011-2022) - JD93+
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Decanted for 2 hours and tasted blind along with 16 other highly rated 2002 Cali Cabs. Most french tasting wine of the lot.. Big fruit and excellent balance and with some nice french oak and earthiness.. Very pleasant finish this wine finished near the top of the pack... and it beat several Parker 100 pt wines.. ie Sloan, Harlan, Paul Hobbs Beckstoffer To Kalon...
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Decanted for 3 hours. Black as ink. Brooding, deep, rich nose of dark fruits, earth, blackberry, currant. Great weight and balance with a velvety midpalate and a long finish. This is coming along nicely. Drink or hold. 95
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Drank this side-by-side with a 2004 Mas Dois Priorat, and the Priorat blew the Dominus away, at least at this stage of development. The Dominus was still quite tannic, and needs more time. It was too early to drink this wine. I would give it at least another 5 years, as it is a massive wine. The predominant flavors at this stage were tobacco, cherry and leather. Nice, but needs more time to be great.
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Bought this at the restaurant after a two day meeting. We were fried and wanted to get something nice. It was a good value and, even better, the company paid. Had it decanted and waited 15 minutes which was not even close to being long enough. Took another 30 minutes in the glasses before it started to open up. Nice nose of dark fruits, wet rock well balanced with oak. Well balanced mix of fruit, vanilla with oaky overtones. Long finish with strong tannins. I wanted to get this because I've had three in the cellar for 3 years and was wondering. I'll hold those another 2-4 years before trying this again and will go with a very long decant before I try and approach it.
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Decanted for about 45 minutes before the first sip and took another 45 minutes to finish the bottle. Deep purple color with bright red rim. Very intense bouquet of graphite and cassis, with layers of dark fruit and cherry emerging over time. The nose was more complex than the taste - fairly straightforward Cabernet flavors in the mouth, but perfectly balanced and well integrated. Would be interesting to taste again in 10 years.
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Wow... I really loved this wine. Pretty much right out of the bottle this was signing. Decanted it but not sure why, we drank the bottle in less than 2hrs. Sweet dusty tannins and beautiful red and black fruits were a perfect match for NY Strip carpetbagger style. Haven't had any other vintages to compare it to but we really enjoyed this one.
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This is a great wine, maybe even a classic. Deep ruby/purple at the core and a lighter, garnet red at the rim. The alluring nose is ripe with blackberries, cassis, wet stone, vanilla and anise. The oak is present, but very nicely integrated and lends a hand only when asked. On the palate the '02 Dominus delivers tons of ripe, red raspberries, black cherries, blackberries, crushed rocks and mocha wrapped around a core of firm, finely grained, sweet tannins, which gracefully expand and unfold while contributing to this wine's sixty second finish. The '02 Dominus is evolving at a glacial pace for a Napa red, and its substantial structure suggests that it will be at least another five years before this wine is fully mature. Decanting this wine several hours in advance of consuming it will greatly enhance the wine's performance. (94+ pts.)
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Dumbfounded by Dominus (Kirkland, WA): Very intense pickle barrel, not an inspiring nose at all. A rather searing palate with tart cranberry fruit. An OK wine.
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Dominus Vertical Dinner (onesixtyblue): Full purple red color. Huge nose of red and black fruit. Mmmmn, big black sweet liqueur fruit with a long firm finish. Another great 02 Napa cab... 94+pts.
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DOMINUS VERTICAL DINNER (160 Blue - Chicago, IL): Big and brawny. Currants, vanilla, creoste. Lots of complexity and depth of fruit. My favorite of the younger Dominus --- a great wine for drinking in 15-20 years.
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Great nose right out of the bottle. Notes of coffee and mocha. Dry dark fruits, firm tannins. After an hour or so really starts to come around. Lots of structure, layer after layer of dusty fruits and a 60 sec + finish. This easily has 10 or 15 years until it peaks. Best consumed with food!
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Garnet with watery edges. A wonderful and sweet, but a bit restrained nose. Medium-bodied with great balance and immidiate pleasure, but also a bit closed. Rating: 92+
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Surprisingly, very approachable this early in its life span. This dominus was drinking beautiful, with everyone at the table wanting more. Med to full bodied, juicy ripe fruit with balance and integration, good to great wine
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Winestreet Tastes Spain and California: Dark red color. The nose is subdued, showing some dark fruit and earthy elements. In the mouth this is full bodied with dark fruit and smokey elements. The fruit is very concentrated and mouth coating. The finish is tannic and of good length. This is a quality wine that is currently a little tight. I would expect it to develop nicely with additional time in the bottle.
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Young Dominus Vertical: Wine tasting. An interesting contrast with its 2001 counterpart, this was more ripe and lush. Big concentrated black currant and cassis aromas to start. Not a particularly subtle wine, but good textures come through on finish.
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3/20/2024 - Volleyball Likes this wine: 95 Points
Still excellent. Enjoyed on the beach in Mexico with some good steak.
A couple of years in, this is showing a more savory character, with more floral and vegetable flavors than fruits with noticeable eucalyptus and menthol. It’s actually more savory than I would prefer but an excellent wine nonetheless. Very very long finish.
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3/9/2024 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 93 Points
Intense nose with lots of fruit, dark berries, cassis, blackberries, tobacco, and earth. Medium acidity with quite a bit of tannins, black cherries, and more blackberries and tobacco on the palate. Finish is quite long. This is a rich, ripe, and big wine but it's actually quite balanced. Still, it feels much too young. I would hold for another 10+ years. 93+
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3/1/2024 - LNLeeV wrote:
Gifted to Menlo School auction
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2/11/2024 - Hanibal wrote: 92 Points
Still young
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11/25/2023 - mxfnck Likes this wine: 98 Points
Bucket List tasting at Wijnkoperij Okhuysen: The other winner of the night. Surprisingly colorful.
The nose started out with spices, smoked meat, mocca, a hint of eucalyptus, pencil. After a few minutes, a stunning fruitiness started to emerge. A hint of cassis at first, building and building, until it was imbued with gorgeous forest fruit, a bit of jam, while underneath there was all this tertiary complexity. It took me a long time to even consider taking the first sip.
The tannins were utterly refined and vibrant, soft acidity and a tiny bit of chocolate-bitter.
Then another evolution when aromas of black olive and undergrowth started to develop. So much going on, and all so integrated. Really really refined and delicious.
In its perfect drinking window right now. No decanting, just followed it in the glass.
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10/5/2023 - Alexander Smith wrote: 89 Points
Brief tasting note:
Two bottles of this wine were opened the first one seemed a little Bretty but maybe that is just how the wine is? The second one had this sweet and sour texture, nearly BBQ meet in terms of flavours. Not sure which was good which one was not, disappointing.
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10/4/2023 - d'Artagnan wrote: 96 Points
Dégustation Spottswoode avec Beth Weber Novak: Après une première bouteille bouchonnée, notre ami Daniel en produit une seconde, qui s'est avérée magnifique malgré le peu d'aération.
Belle droiture, un vin racé, enrobé et gras, avec une vague parenté bordelaise, mais le côté résolument hédoniste de la vallée de Napa. Puissant mais raffiné, très bonne longueur. Grand vin et un des meilleurs Dominus que j’ai pris. 96 pts
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7/4/2023 - VinDeVie_1 Likes this wine: 98 Points
2002 Dominus Estate. Despite being the oldest napa wine I've had in the last couple of months, this may have been the freshest/youngest wine of the whole lot. This wine could easily rest five more years and not miss a beat. Very austere and Bordeaux at times. I think I even commented, "You can take the maker out of France, but you can't take the France out of the maker." The only tip off to me was the higher fruit character and lack of the cedar/leather/cigar box note that would be present in a true left bank wine. 97-98+
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4/14/2023 - Nontaco Likes this wine: 95 Points
Smooth and supple and drinking beautifully now. Long session and enjoyed the communion with the wine. This is all muted dark fruits and a walk through the forest and easy drinking. Pleasure. Lacking certain dimensions and I have to say I thought once or twice why not just drink a good Bordeaux w some bottle age to have that dialogue with the terroir rather than a facsimile (all relative re QPR). Still a really nice bottle and favorite Dominus to date.
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3/12/2023 - Cailles wrote: 95 Points
Tasted double blind. My guess was right bank Bordeaux from a ripe vintage. While not as classic Bordeaux-esque as the 80s and early 90s Dominus, this still is on the good side of things in terms of ripeness and earthiness – even in a hot, ripe vintage like 2002. A great wine and thanks to the powerful fruit and ripeness it did show well even after 20 wines and with an almost numb palate.
TN: Intense but not overly precise bouquet displaying dark berries and truffles at the core. On the palate loads of herbs, minerality, perfectly complementing the ripe dark fruit core. The structural frame was quite good with melted tannins, high tension, good acidity and an overall wonderful balance.
Decanting: Not decanted, no extensive decanting needed
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3/12/2023 - Collector1855 wrote: 96 Points
Blind tasting dinner. Much better than 10 years ago when I had this wine the last time. Beautiful and mature, ripe but the ripeness is well integrated now, forest floor. I guessed Bdx from a warm vintage and not Napa.
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3/10/2023 - La Sprezzatura wrote: 95 Points
dominus simply delivers everytime at almost every vintage.
on the nose it reminded me a lot of bordeaux, just a touch more light and fresh. elegant and full of pleasure and high drink flow.
characteristicly this had a touch of vegetable aromas followed by some pepper and paprika.
would profit from decant.
my style, id almost say that i lile this even more than a ripe bordeaux. the freeshness is unmathed.
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10/30/2022 - shafer1994 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Reluctant wine, more French than Californian. Deep color, elegant nose. After some time and a lot of air: Blackberries and red currant, espresso. Medium finish. More elegance than fruitiness. All in all very conservative.
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10/22/2022 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
NY Wine Experience 2022; 10/20/2022-10/23/2022 (Marriott Marquis): So very young. Lots of big fruit. Almost no age here (at least could tell the '06 had had 16 years - this feels almost like it could have been released last year). Perhaps a bit less depth to it. Wonder how it will evolve longer term.
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7/31/2022 - lomartin@protonmail.com wrote: 83 Points
Although it still shows s characteristics one expects of Dominus, this is now past its prime. Drink “yesterday”.
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2/13/2022 - JS199 wrote: 97 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes and consumed over 4+ hours. Beautiful nose of Bordeaux, herbs, and earth. Palate was seamless, well built, no slowing down to the finish. Elegant, subtle, French oak well integrated, slight chocolate on the finish. Absolutely gorgeous.
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1/1/2022 - hoservin Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for one hour. Nose of blackberry, currant, cedar, anise and forest floor. Ripe blackberry, currant, cedar, leather, licorice and crushed rock on the palate. Very long, layered finish with excellent depth. Medium to full bodied. This was exquisite. Drinking very well. Served with beef Wellington.
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12/15/2021 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Served blind. I was all over the place with my guesses. But we had some smart red wine palates at the table who helped center this to Bordeaux, left bank. Wrong! This showed a cool mix of what to me seemed like a new/old world marriage of flavors. The California sun reflected in the wine, with some ripeness that was integrated and showing very well. Yet, there was cedar, pencil shavings and one remark about olive. Overall, this was drinking great for me and remaining fresh and balanced, along with aging well at almost 20 years.
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10/30/2021 - mclanew Likes this wine: 97 Points
Decanted two hours. This is stunningly good. Ripe black currant and cherry, tobacco and herbs comes through. This is a little riper than this wine usually is but it works as it still shows some of its trademark bordeaux character. Very elegant with silky tannins and a long satisfying finish this keeps giving and giving. This will be excellent for at least the next ten years
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10/3/2021 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
Ripe, round and luscious, with layers of deep, dark red and black fruits, opulent textures, and waves of ripe, juicy, sweet fruits in the finish that continue through to the back end. If I was being picky, a touch of heat intrudes in all the sweet, fruits and licorice that linger in the finish. This is really showing well. Perhaps 30 minutes of decanting works here, but as it is about to hit 20 years of age, the wine is developed and ready to go.
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10/2/2021 - Volleyball Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted this for about 7 hours before drinking. No lightweight, but more elegance than power, which was surprising but very enjoyable. This is very good drinking at the moment, but still pretty early in the development of its tertiary characteristics. I think I’ll save my other bottles for a little while …
Fairly deep russet color, showing its age a bit, but not too much.
Quite a pronounced nose of blueberries, earth, tobacco, flint and asparagus. Clearly a complex wine.
Higher acid than expected (M+), with mounth filling and persistent, but soft tannins. Full body and a good long finish. Still plenty of fruit - blueberry and black currant - balanced by just a little vegetable (the asparagus) and mint with tobacco, leather and truffle on the finish.
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9/19/2021 - Cailles wrote: 96 Points
Mini Dominus Vertical 87/95/02/15. No notes taken. This is my first 2002 Dominus and it met my high expectations. Very expressive with layers and layers of ripe but pure fruit, lots of earthy notes, minerality, herbs, spices and first tertiary notes of tobacco, wet earth and truffles. The structural frame is impeccable with a wall of fine tannins, a high and well-rounded acidity, a nicely creamy texture, no excess weight and a long and expanding finish. This is a masterpiece in the making but I guess this will at least need another 10 years to reach its peak, lose some more baby fat and develop more tertiary aromas to balance the sweet fruit core. The 96 pts today reflect all that greatness but if I would have to choose one bottle to drink on my own today, it would be the 1995 (rated 95 pts) and the 1987 (rated 94 pts) as too much of the 2002 might be overwhelming.
Decanting: This needed a bit of air to settle down. My guess is that 1-2 hours in the decanter will do the job.
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9/9/2021 - edjBoca Likes this wine: 96 Points
Sublime... After opening 2 hours earlier.. Shared with great friends.. Medium to full body... So elegent and balanced for the year... Just love Dominus when it is given enough time..... Didn't fade at all!
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4/18/2021 - BBinSC wrote: 96 Points
WOTN (arguably) Great arrangement of bottles here, the Dominus picked up where the Cos left off, ramping up the black fruit with intense blackberry. Touch of oak on the nose and palate. This wine is superbly balanced and just in a smashing place right now. Finishes well, just not quite the length you expect in a 5 star bottle. That's a quibble, honestly. Fantastic.
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1/20/2021 - mchern02 wrote: 94 Points
3 hour decant
Attractive nose of mocha, dark fruit, anise and minty cool and calming aromas. This wine is now fairly evolved with a multi dimensional body, excellent and attractive acidity, layers of attractive fruit and chocolate and a zippy lengthy finish.
Quite delicious in drinking window but no rush. Is excellent!
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1/5/2021 - dharrison93 Likes this wine: 99 Points
Extraordinary. Drank with friends after a splash pour+ 10 minutes.
Dark ruby with no sediment, this wine is in a fully mature sweet spot.
Relentlessly assertive nose of black cherry, raspberry and dark chocolate, this drew gasps from the table upon pouring.
If not 100 points, it was very close.
If you have any of these babies cherish for very special friends.
5-10 years of exceptional drinking ahead.
If a date, this was a 35 year old former lingerie model Harvard MBA, currently working as an elite escort: Beauty and brains to create a memorable evening.
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1/2/2021 - Kevnzworld wrote: 95 Points
1 hour decant pre dinner at Press Napa
This wine is in a great place
Elegant and balanced . The age has added just the right amount of tobacco on the finish while not overpowering the fruit.
The Cab fruit isn’t predominant so it drinks like a good aged Bordeaux , but there’s nothing but first growths that have this definition, complexity and fruit in the 20 yo category ...IMO
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11/26/2020 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 93 Points
Soft and round with a touch of mocha and nice long finish. Fully mature.
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11/14/2020 - Bandreas Likes this wine:
Very dark center, garnet rim.
On the nose black- and blueberries, some pepper and some cedar. Still quite a bit of fruit left on the bouquet..
On the palate still quite closed and tannic, bitter impression; a bit on the lean side.
This wine did not come across in a favorable light tonight. I think they overdid the tannins which need at least another 5 years to soften down and more fully integrate. I am not persuaded that the latter will ever happen as the wine, at this age , is not balanced.
Disappointing..
Reading the tasting notes of others, I wonder if my wine was off... Will never know as this was my only bottle.
On day 2: from a half bottle, decanted off the previous night: On the nose the fruit has come more to the foreground and the smell more expressive.
The palate side has also improved: Tannins more subdued and better interwoven with the wine. A different kettle of fish now. Still a bit tannic but I have a more more favorable impression of the wine.
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9/27/2020 - G_H wrote: 95 Points
A Cappella at Martins: Cassis, lactic, warm milk, round, velvety and long with a great mouthfeel. In a pretty spot right now.
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9/6/2020 - aquacongas wrote: 95 Points
not blind, Best vintages of Dominus, all bottles perfectly stored (subcription) and decanted for 2 hours
In a flight together with 94. It Looks not fair but it Shows nicely the difference between Cali vs Bordeaux. This is a modern Blockbuster. Powerful, not elegant, you feel the fruit is controlled by the oak. in 10 years again. 95+
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8/8/2020 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Similar to prior note after a 2 hr. double decant; outstanding, drink or hold
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8/1/2020 - Ramberg wrote: 82 Points
Not my type of wine, that much is clear (but not many Cali/Napa wines are on the other hand. I need to avoid buying, since it never delivers)
This has gone from rather excellent (for a Cali/3:d world wine) to not good.
Opened and decanted for 3 hours.
Bottle is not flawed, this is just the way the wine is made - lack of real origin.
No good stuffing, fruit is to sweet and extracted, wine is overall way too hot and unbalanced.
Resins, sweet and extracted, smoked and torched bourbon styled vanilla from the barrels, anus and loads and loads of alcohol.
No complexity at all, just too much of everything, completely lacking any signs of any fines what so ever.
Used the remains for a red wine sauce, but not even that turned into anything good.
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6/6/2020 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 94 Points
Few hours of air. Drank in Grassl 1855.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of cedarwood, black cherries, blackcurrant, cassis, menthol. Developed.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol (14%), fine high tannins, full bod. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of sweet cedarwood, ripe bell peppers, menthol, cinnamon spice, cassis, licorice, blackcurrant, black cherries, blackberries, salty earth. Long finish.
Very good quality. Complex and classic. Feels like a 2nd Growth Bordeaux. Probably at peak already, and will hold this peak for another 4-5 years before starting the gradual decline.
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5/1/2020 - the player Likes this wine: 95 Points
Checking my previous notes on this amazing wines the last time I had the Dominus 02 was 7 years ago. My patience was certainly rewarded. The wine has definitely evolved although at a glacial pace. Used Coravin to pour circa half the bottle in a decanter and aerated for an hour and drank over 2. Blackish crimson very dense wine. On the nose blackberries and spices, plums and hints of licorice almost reminiscent of Angelus. Very powerful yet velvety entry on the palate, amazing structure and complexity mid palate and perfect balance and acidity, the wine finished with very fine and sweet tannins, and a long mocha tinged finish. Still have the other half of this bottle to drink along with my remaining 3 bottles. Next one in a few years!
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4/29/2020 - Som-Geo Likes this wine: 100 Points
Spectacular! Fan of Dominos for decades, been enjoying the early 90s vintages of late, and a few 01s and 97s recently. The 2002 however is truly unique -- per RP, similar to the 94 in stature (perhaps also the 90 and 91 but not enough data-points) but reminded me of the 2004 Harlan -- one of my ATFs -- jammy, smoky, earthy, red and black fruit, cedar and perhaps coffee/vanilla. Hedonistic but balanced and complex. Gorgeous Napa, wow. Realized I have a few mags and a 3.0L. These should age beautifully, excited to drink these over next 5-10 years.
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4/4/2020 - Riesling_tba Likes this wine: 97 Points
One of the best bottles from this case I had so far. Uncorked three hours before drinking the wine open up nicely in the glass. This is a monument with a great elegance, balanced, warm body and distinct acidity. Still very present and good to go for another 5-10 years.
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3/9/2020 - mdvillaverde Likes this wine: 94 Points
85% Cab Sauv, 8% Cab Franc, the rest Petit Verdot. 14.1% ABV. Not great on day 1 but actually quite good on days 2 and 3. Mid-weight, but it's good fruit and brings velvety well-integrated tannins. A nice, long, juicy finish.m A 93 on day 1 and 95 on days 2 and 3.
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2/28/2020 - Romol Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decated 2+ hours. Again a very good bottle. Perfect to drink right now but no hurry. This will last several more years (in a good cellar). 94(-) pts.
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1/11/2020 - Zweder wrote: 97 Points
Best Bottle tasting in Fitzgerald, Rotterdam. (By JvT @ Fitzgerald): In the bouquet dark berries. On the palate a beautiful and classical wine with dark berries like cassis, earth and forest floor impressions. Juicy acidity. Great wine now.
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1/9/2020 - KenK Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking well, but slightly behind the 2001 served alongside. Nice black fruits, good flavor profile with good spice and balance. Quite good.
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1/9/2020 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Dominus Dinner (Formento's - Chicago IL): Similar to the 2001 in the next glass, but slightly riper and less complex or nuanced. I haven't had this wine since shortly after release, and am very happy with how it has developed.
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12/27/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Green and earthy, not too concentrated, better on day two. So maybe this is an odd point in its middle age? Certainly had the vibrancy.
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12/5/2019 - dharrison93 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Extraordinary. Drank BYOB with friends at a French restaurant.
Dark crimson purple with little sediment, this wine is mature + in a sweet spot now.
Beguiling nose of black cherry, plum + Asian spice with faint mocha backdrop.
Long long finish makes Ben Hur seem like a Saturday night Rom-com.
If a date, this was a 38 year old regional manager who prides in her mesmerizing sexual charm and your helpless response to her advances.
Breakfast was the best meal of your life.
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11/20/2019 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Double decanted for 2 hrs, deep ruby, lovely black cherry with a touch of vanilla on the nose although the palate was a little restrained, med. tannins, long finish; outstanding, drink or hold (I suspect that a little more time will get the palate to fully open up). Went beautifully with prime rib & very slightly edged out the 00 Lynch Bages.
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10/4/2019 - asgerG wrote: 95 Points
Elegant and expressive. A point
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9/6/2019 - Romol Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 2 hours. This was again a perfect bottle. Very good. 2 hours in the decanter were perfect. Drink or hold. 94+ pts.
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5/19/2019 - Thief Likes this wine: 96 Points
Liquid nirvana for the palate. Completely balanced dark fruits, acidity and super fine tannins with a hint of chocolate after swallowing. Couldn't ask for more.
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5/18/2019 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 95 Points
Lovely wine that is bursting with mocha and some tobacco notes. Very youthful despite its age. Still going strong!
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5/13/2019 - Frank Schneider wrote: 97 Points
Mothers Day !!! Well Mummy likes that !!!! Fantastic red , which you can t put on one of the Old world / New world sides . Dark fruits , herbs but also leather , forest , acid , tannin, everything is here. And all in balance !!! After 3 h of decanting it was a point . Try one now or hold for 97+
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5/9/2019 - sooper65 wrote: 96 Points
Total balance
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3/24/2019 - Zweder wrote: 96 Points
Dinner Group (@ Zarzo, Eindhoven, The Netherlands): Garrigue and red and dark berries in the bouquet. Beautiful sweet spices as well. On the palate red and dark berries, cherries, good acidity and soft tannin. The fruit is still youthful. What a great wine again.
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12/15/2018 - Zweder wrote: 94 Points
Dark berries, ink and licorice in the bouquet. On the palate dark berries, licorice and graphite. Beautiful acidity and round tannin. No more notes.
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12/15/2018 - VlgJeff wrote: 91 Points
Decanted about an hour and a half and could have used more. One glass each at a dinner for six. Wonderful aromas of blue and red fruits which follow on to the medium to plus palate. The acidity was balancing, and the tannins were resolved, but there was an element of green pepper/eucalyptus that seems (from other TNs) to haunt this wine. Should hold for several years.
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12/14/2018 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Courtesy of m/m tlv, double decanted about three hours before dinner. Aromas of vanilla, lavender and dark fruit- cassis and currants- in the bouquet and on the palate. Still quite firm and youthful. Iodine/rare beef, dark fruit, violets and even a touch of cedar too, with a nice green streak as well. Plenty of upside here- this just needs some time.
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12/14/2018 - thelostverse wrote: 92 Points
Double decanted about three hours before dinner. Nose of cedar and lavender, with a touch of iodine near the end. Finish is a bit shorter than expected, but that’s a bit of nitpicking.
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11/9/2018 - Romol Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Last bottle was a bit better but it was still a very good wine. A very good vintage. 93 pts.
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9/3/2018 - patwjr wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Very Bordeaux like, earthy minerals and soft fruit. Only negative was a bit green taste. Still has years in it.
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9/2/2018 - AB16 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Love this wine
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8/26/2018 - AlphaMikeFoxtrot wrote: 97 Points
cooked red strawberries, plums and cigar box/cedar. Full bodied and so smooth on the palate. Tannins are mellow and agreeable. Perfectly elegant and Bordeaux-like, an extremely well made wine.
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7/27/2018 - Romol Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Again a very good bottle. 2 hours of air were perfect. Ready to drink but no hurry. 94 pts.
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7/15/2018 - Kevnzworld Likes this wine: 95 Points
PNP at dinner Cucina Urbana
Great nose of Red berries and herbs.
Initially beautiful on the palate with soft and balanced flavors of red berries and herbs. Just the right amount of heat acidity and fruit, cherries, plum
The finish melts away a little too early and stronger flavors in food overwhelm it.
As the wine ox’s during dinner it improved. The flavors of cassis and oregano and finish became more evident and it held up better
The finish has a tinge of eucalyptus, that melds well with the lingering berry fruit
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6/29/2018 - oncocyte Likes this wine: 93 Points
Not a profound showing. It needs time. And four hours of aeration.
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6/19/2018 - Topper wrote: 92 Points
Gave this 91 on day 1 when it could have used, but didn't get, a decant. 93 on day 2 when it was open, rich, tannins resolved and very pretty cab flavors with textural richness and some complexity. Good example of 02 quality though not as wonderful as the very best from that year (Insignia comes to mind). The experience on day 1 suggests either giving this another year or two, or a short decant on opening.
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4/14/2018 - Romol Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Very good bottle. Wonderful nose. Last bottle a few month ago was a bit better (94 pts) but this still was delicious. Ready to drink but still a lot of life left. 93 pts.
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2/18/2018 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:
Tampa Spring Break III; 2/16/2018-2/18/2018 (Tampa FL): 9/17 wines tasted double blind. My guess here was Napa Cabernet or Bordeaux Blend. This was expressing a classic napa profile to me and with riper fruit but still had good balance.
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2/18/2018 - MC2 Wines wrote:
Tampa Spring Break (the third); 2/16/2018-2/18/2018 (Various Tampa locations (Seasons 52, Capital Grille, Berns etc.)): Wine #9: Here again I'm getting some cough syrup. Very drying tannins. Not sure that this wine is actually ready to go - feels like it might be a bit young. Alcohol stands out some. Cherries.
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1/28/2018 - novie1234 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very fine showing. Would drink in the next year as it seems at or just past peak. Nose has generous amounts of tabacco, dust, and cassis. Fruits of cherry, plum are forward but nicely balanced with a layered acidity. Finish is of wonderful length - we’ll over a half minute and migrates as the acidity fades.
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12/29/2017 - Romol Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Very good bottle. Wonderful nose. Perfect balance of friut and acidity. I was surprised, this seemed much younger than it is. This will last 10 more years (in a good cellar). 94+ pts.
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11/24/2017 - Zweder wrote: 96 Points
Game dinner with friends: Red and ripe fruits in the bouquet. On the palate a perfect balance between acidity and sweetness. Full bodied and yet elegant. Great and harmonious wine with a good length.
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9/1/2017 - dharrison93 Likes this wine: 99 Points
Magnificent stunning juice. Still vibrant and youthful with 5-10 years of amazing drinking ahead. Has all the same stunning qualities discussed in my previous note.
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8/17/2017 - nm10 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Dark red. After a 45 minute decant, an elegant nose. Palate of cassis, currants, anise, and charcoal. 50-second finish. Plenty of fruit still to emerge after 2 hrs, so I would expect lots of life left. Lovely!
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5/14/2017 - grapist wrote: flawed
First an '01 and now and '02 with a couple of days. This one drinkable but clearly off.
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4/23/2017 - onboisduvin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good performance on aroma and taste, and yes, it lacks a bit of structure and power.
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4/13/2017 - themki wrote: 98 Points
After 15 years still an unruly puppy. Hands down the greatest of the early 2000's cabs.,.
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3/17/2017 - RayOB wrote: 91 Points
Drank in Hong Kong
Much better on my second tasting. Opening up nicely.
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12/28/2016 - brubron Likes this wine:
She still has a lot of life. The fruit is rich but mellow and the tannins silky.
Beautiful wine. Probably will last a few more years, but is lovely right now. If i had more, i would drink it now.
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12/11/2016 - blash Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine is aging well. Fruit has faded with age but still great flavors and a long finish. Great now but should be good for a few more years.
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12/11/2016 - Francois Le Mouel Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine is definitely ready to drink. Tannins are very soft; even a bit too soft (the wine is lacking a bit of structure). The nose is nice, albeit less expressive than what I was expecting. Palate is well balanced, with a fairly long finish. Drink now!
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12/3/2016 - HOS wrote: 97 Points
Decanted for an hour. It's been 3 years since my last bottle and this is still intense. The fruit has faded leaving earth, espresso, dark chocolate, truffle. The tannins still have a bite that settles down after the decanting. Full bodied, strong finish. This has years to go.
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11/28/2016 - MWiking wrote: 93 Points
finns en del menthol på näsan, och vinet är lite gräsigt, gissade på en aussie-cab... dock väldigt god
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11/23/2016 - Ramberg wrote: 91 Points
Nose is extremely Bdx., and nice.
Dusty gravel, green herbs, licorice, cassis, grassy and dry.
Palate with creme de cassis, cherries, sweet licorice, medium acidity, smooth, but with alcohol heat on the finish that somewhat brings down the overall impression and balance.
Much better than the 2007 in the flight before this one.
No rush to finish.
(90 – 92)
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11/15/2016 - Dako Likes this wine: 90 Points
Bright garnet color, reticent nose. Nice linearity for Cali cab, and while the fruit is subdued as expected, surprisingly lacking the floral elements of the classic 90's vintages. A fine bottle of wine to consume now, but seems to be enough acidity and just enough fruit to check back in 3 years to see if it becomes more interesting.
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10/30/2016 - dharrison93 Likes this wine: 99 Points
Fabulous++ Fully mature deep ruby with zero sediment. Brooding deep nose of black cherry, white chocolate and Asian spice. Fantastic palate coating mouth feel with 30 second finish.
American Cabernet rarely reaches these exalted heights.
If a date, this was a 20 year old PhD lingerie model who discusses global economic policies and trade flows over dinner before taking you back to her place and giving you an around-the-world bedroom experience.
Highly recommended if you can locate some
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7/26/2016 - nywine68 Likes this wine: 95 Points
A huge wine. Unbelievably full body and saturation. This is just starting to open up but ideally needs anther 10+ years. The nose is a bit restrained but the tar and licorice flavors are deep and complex with a long finish. The tannins are really fine and beautifully integrated.
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7/21/2016 - RussK wrote: 91 Points
Russk. Barry's Wizards Tasting at the Ritz. My WOTF of lessCSS Napa Cabs. Could seem to sense some CabF and PetiteV.
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5/28/2016 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au Likes this wine: 95 Points
Great Napa Valley blend....enjoyed with friends in a mixed variety horizontal tasting. Showed beautifully.
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4/4/2016 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rated 93 points only for where it is now, not for where it will be in about 10 years. There is an absolutely purity and balance here to suggest this will be a stunner in 10 years. If you are looking for the '94 Dominus, you won't find it in the '02 vintage. First off, there is no trace of brett in this wine like there is in the '94. Secondly, the ripe vintage of '02 is definitely evident at the moment. While there is a Bordeaux element with the herbaceous nose and finish, I would never pick this as Bordeaux blind due to the touch of vanillin, creme de cassis, and sweetness on the finish. Nevertheless, it has a great nose and finish. I'm just used to Dominus being a dead ringer for Bordeaux and I didn't experience it tonight. Glad I have a few more in the cellar, but will not touch them for another decade.
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4/2/2016 - RonniePiemonte wrote: 94 Points
Continued to open up after 1 1/2 hours in the decanter. Green pepper flavors succumb to more complex earth herbal tones.
Powerful nose, long finish. Enjoyed with grilled lamb chops and mac and cheese.
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12/24/2015 - die wrote: 91 Points
Simply fantastic
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12/20/2015 - mntebolt wrote:
I don t know where this is !!!
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12/12/2015 - winelover1808 wrote: 95 Points
i really enjoyed this a lot. super smooth and so pretty. very sweet nose and core of fruit. more medium bodied. no heat and good balance of fruit with tannins. very smooth finish. not as bordeaux like as prior dominus, but nice that this isnt an overlayered heat bomb.
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11/22/2015 - Purple Tooth wrote: 95 Points
A unique and signature Napanook profile of green peppers and peppercorns. Very easy to identify as a Dominus by this signature (possibly confusable for an Opus)...Sorry to say that I think that in the recent past, the wine has created more extract, higher ratings, and possibly losing this very appealing signature...On a bright note, I tend to think that this signature is still very evident in the second wine with a smaller price tag...Still vibrant and fresh...Drink or Hold
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8/15/2015 - Hamersly wrote: 98 Points
Simply superb. Decanted for eight hours. Tasted next to a 2001 Dominus, which it edged out due to a voluptuous quality that the 2001 lacked. Tied with a 2002 Ramey JC Cab as my WOTN in a group of 20.
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6/13/2015 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still seems a bit closed even after a slow ox of 2-3 hours. Opened up over the evening but I was opening for a bit more fireworks. Would probably hold off again for 2-3 years.
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6/2/2015 - Napacablover wrote: 94 Points
enjoyed at Bones restaurant in Atlanta along with a 2007 shafer hillside select and 2004 bond st. Eden
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3/16/2015 - Rblack230 wrote: 91 Points
Nice but way overrated .
Still tannic but not much body, nice taste of prune but still astringent. Some length but nothing wow here!
Totally not understanding why Robert Parker gave this such a high rating.
For the price, one can do way, way better!
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2/28/2015 - RayOB wrote: 89 Points
A Matter of Taste: London Edition (Saatchi Gallery, Chelsea): I just be missing something reading all the other reviews. This wine was definitely not the same for me as others seem to have experienced. Nice but not worth the price and the press.
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2/28/2015 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 94 Points
A Matter of Taste: London Edition (Saatchi Gallery, Chelsea): A ripe and herbal nose, complemented by a diverse spice palate and some fennel; intense and concentrated mouthfeel, with black cherries, plum and soy, rich and sort of Pomerol-esque, a bit of an outlier in this flight, but a rewarding one.
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1/27/2015 - wineholder wrote: 85 Points
I don't recall if I tasted it when it was younger or not but my assumption is it is past its time.
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12/27/2014 - emzee.mc wrote: 97 Points
On Lot 10 wine dinner (On Lot 10): Popped and decanted for 3 hours, the wine pours an inky purple with very thick long legs. Almost like squid ink. On the nose, a pungent and powerful bouquet of cherries, raspberries, eucalyptus, leather, truffles and damp earth. Very unctuous structure with a mineral backbone. Big and broad, as you would expect from a Napa cab, with flavors of stewed red fruits, leather, mushrooms, peppers and thyme. A bit green on the palate for some reason. The majority of the tannins are integrated, though some minor rough edges still exist. Minimal acidity here, probably being dwarfed by the huge extraction. Long and complex finish, lasting almost a minute! What a crazy wine.
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12/21/2014 - napasoutherner Likes this wine: 95 Points
Rich Bordeaux blend at an all cab dinner. Took hours to open up but when it did it was masterful. Notes of oak and licorice with dark fruit. Long on finish. Great wine.
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11/22/2014 - Collector1855 wrote: 92 Points
Dominus Master Class - A matter of taste (Singapore): Dark purple. Expressive nose of dark fruit, licorice and cassis, hits of eucalyptus too. On the palate this one is ripe and sweet, just like the 2008, too sweet for my taste. I miss the precision and sappyness on the palate. May be if you are used to Napa CabSav this one will appeal to you more than the 01 and 06.
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11/22/2014 - etyc Likes this wine:
"Matter of Taste" - Dominus Masterclass (Singapore Art Museum Glass House): Nose of ink, iodine. Much more concentrated/masculine than the '01. Very fresh and structured with a strong tannic spine. Balanced with "enough" fruit extraction to make this still enjoyable at this point in time. A bit drying towards the end. Longer than the '01.
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11/22/2014 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dominus Master Class - A matter of taste (Singapore): Similar in style to the 2001 but a bit bigger and bolder. A touch more red and dark fruit covering the tannins here. According to EM this is 85% CS, 8% CF, 4% PV and 3% Merlot
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11/22/2014 - Nicholas81 wrote: 94 Points
Dominus Masterclass (Robert Parker's Matter of Taste, Singapore) (Singapore Art Museum): More intense than the 2001. Tannic structure is much larger. Chocolates, Coffee and lots of bright red fruits. Tannins are large, voluptuous, grippy and slightly viscous. The finish was weaker than the 2001.
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11/15/2014 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 92 Points
Clarence's Birthday 2014 (Extra Space): Slow-oxed in bottle for about 1.5 hours before drinking.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, purplish ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of blackberries and blackcurrant, with hints of chocolate. Developing.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol, fine high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours ripe blackberries, blackcurrant, cassis, licorice, and spice. Long finish.
Very good quality. Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This is a more restrained kind of Napa style rather than a fruit bomb. However, at this point in time, I feel it is still quite tightly wound up. I would have preferred to have enjoyed this bottle with a longer air time in a decanter. Otherwise, hold onto this for another 5 years before re-exploring.
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7/26/2014 - robertek wrote: 94 Points
I love this wine which really have you fooled in a blind tasting. People keep going back and forth between Californa and Bdx. Still quite young and with another 10 years it will gain in complexity. Today very appealing on the nose and powerful on the palate - yet intergrated and balanced. It was up against a 2002 Ch Mouton, 1961 Ch Siran and an astonishing 1961 Ch Haut Batailley. Dominus - as always - stood its ground. No need to hurry on this one though again - it will get alot better with more age.
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6/3/2014 - pmarlo wrote: 93 Points
Very bordeaux in structure, a nicely blended wine, but I think has a fair amount of cabernet to it. Friend said he detected tannins, which seems to bode well for aging. fruit was not faded either. Cork was stellar, one of the best hard and dense corks I've seen so far in California cabernets. no rough edges at all. Agree with other tasters, not a blockbuster like I expected, but very nicely balanced. Recommended.
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3/13/2014 - napasoutherner Likes this wine: 95 Points
This was pitted against a 2002 Rudd, a 2002 Arietta H Block. This was Parker rated a 99 point wine but was less of a Napa blockbuster than I thought. However, after many hours it really showed it's layered strength. Truly a wonderful wine but not the big Napa Cab expected. Cedar notes, leather, red berries. Long finish.
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3/6/2014 - bengti Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nice and straight forward, fruit was flavourful. A fine drink
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1/5/2014 - HOS Likes this wine: 97 Points
We brought this to a dinner with friends, each of us bringing a bottle of wine. Decanted for an hour while we drank their bottle of wine and then poured. This kept developing over the 2 hours we drank it (a long dinner, closed the place down) until it was just amazing. Seamless, full bodied, currant, espresso, dark chocolate, sage. 30 second finish. I kept the ranking at the same level as my last bottle 5 months ago but I think this is conservative. Still has a long life ahead and I'm going to try and hold the last couple of bottles for a few years. I just do not understand the reviews in the low 90's. This bottle simply blew away the 2001 cos estournel which was very good also and was definitely the WOTN.
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12/15/2013 - The Wine Guy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened 3.5 hours had for wine tasting. Balanced fruit and tannins this wine has improved with age. Nicely done and drinking well.
and compared with insignia, caymus ss. Dominos was well balanced
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12/7/2013 - sooper65 wrote: 91 Points
Huge points in WA.. worthy of 99??? Not quite.
Super concentration without being over-blown. Ripe blackcurrant, with a deep intense colour. Plenty of stuffing - reckon 4 hours in the decanter next time around.
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11/30/2013 - happytom Likes this wine: 96 Points
Drinking much better than the last time. A great cross between Napa and Bordeaux. Very elegant. Tannins well integrated. Black currants, mild chocolate, hints of sweet tobacco. Did have sediment but was very silky. Can last more many more years but no need to wait...the window is here
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9/21/2013 - punter wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured at dinner. Nose of cedar, roast boysenberry, some leather and traces of truffle - dark fruit jams, cassis, roasted boysenberries, and a trace of tobacco immedaitely accessible through mid-palate tannins - settled down after 45 mins glass time yet enjoyable throughout. Decant the next one after 2-3 years. This bottle was a 'only' 92 because we didn't properly stand and decant. Outstanding
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9/8/2013 - webbaker wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 12 hours, drank over the next 24. Small amount of moderately sized sediment. Strong aromatics overwhelm the fruit. True to Bordeaux style.
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8/28/2013 - HOS Likes this wine: 97 Points
Opened 3 hours before celebration dinner and than drank over next hour. Three people were drinking and all three went wow at the first sip. Silky, full bodied cross between Napa and Bordeaux. Currant, roasted herbs, au jus, dark chocolate with a finish that complements it perfectly. Hint of tannins and a perception of youth should signify a long life ahead but it has definitely hit its stride. Improved a point from my last bottle 3 years ago. This is why I collect wine to find that wow factor.
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5/25/2013 - the player Likes this wine: 93 Points
4 bottles left and not touching these for another few years. After a two hour decant, wine is still very youthful with gripping tannins in the finish. Still a lovely powerful and structured right bank Bordeaux style wine with all the truffles, blackberries, and spicy complexity a top wine can command.
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5/12/2013 - gr8r84u wrote: 92 Points
Excellent. Drink now.
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4/8/2013 - cbkamp Likes this wine: 93 Points
Couldn't take detailed notes, but this was really in a good place. Amazing balance and still tasted very youthful.
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11/26/2012 - 1800kidney wrote: 90 Points
good balance, deep red berries, nice finish..solid
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11/20/2012 - the player wrote: 93 Points
Slightly disappointing after not trying this wine since the beginning of the year; I was expecting a bit more given Parker's upgrade of this wine to a 99 pointer. However this is still a beautiful Bordeaux style California Cab wine but requires 3 hours of decanting / aeration. See previous notes.
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11/12/2012 - W2WineGuy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Brought with to restaurant. Decanted about two hours, still tight in the beginning but better over course of the evening. Deep purple, nice boquet, nicely integrated. Think it could still use some time in the bottle, but nice now.
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10/14/2012 - Dale M wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 5 hrs. I don’t get a chance to drink too many Napa’s in this price range, but ‘a can’t turn down offer’ came my way for the 02 and 07 vintages, and based upon the slew on positive CT feedback, this seemed as good a time as any to pop the cork on the 2002. The all too obvious comparisons between a cross between Bordeaux and Nap was certainly was accurate, and in a certain sense, it sort of gave me writers block in writing the note. That being said, the richness of the perfectly ripened cabernet fruit was beautifully offset by a satiny texture and mouth feel, impeccable precision really. I drink a fair amount of WA State cabs that deliver the hybrid of old world meets new, but nothing that is quite at this level. Outstanding.
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10/6/2012 - SWoenophile wrote: 92 Points
Sublte, well integrated, excellent.
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9/27/2012 - Robert Pavlovich wrote: 93 Points
A real showy wine with intoxicating perfume on the nose. Plush mouth feel, delicate and finessed with good concentration of red fruits and currant. Has a lower intensity finish, with well resolved tannins, and there's decent acidity holding this together. In a good place right now. Well balanced and age appropriate wine, bridging the gap between old and new Napa very nicely as an 02 should after ten years.
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9/25/2012 - spv wrote: 93 Points
Extremely smooth and well integrated.
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7/10/2012 - clairenclarence wrote: 95 Points
1st time tasting napa wine.very bordeaux style.nice structure with abundant primary fruits.finishing with some oaky taste.veri smooth tannins.tis bttl nd plenty of time.a veri nice wine indeed
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6/6/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
Wine like this make me think I need to be drinking more California Cabernet Sauvignon. Still deep in color, with rich, ripe, plush textures and an opulent nature, the wine is filled with chocolate, blackberry, licorice, coffee bean, earth, black cherry and tobacco notes. At 10 years of age, this is just now starting to hit its stride.
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6/3/2012 - johnh1001 wrote: 94 Points
After seeing RP's comments on the 2002 Napa tasting I remembered I had a couple bottles of this wine. RP commented it was close to perfection. Decanted and drank over about 5 hours. Took about 90min to get going. Reasonably fragrant nose of dark fruit, tobacco and leather on the nose. Seems very young. The palate matched the nose with flavors of dark fruits, plums, leather and a little earth. All primary flavors and full in the mouth and very silky. Definitely drank more like a Bordeaux than a CA Cab, but as others have said there is just something that lets you know it's from CA. Medium finish. A nice wine and I look forward to trying this again in a few years.
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5/20/2012 - robertek wrote: 94 Points
Elegant and subtle like a real good Bordeaux yet there is something on the nose that gives it up as a great Napa wine. I like.
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4/14/2012 - Nutty08 wrote: 93 Points
San Antonio Wine Geeks; 4/13/2012-4/14/2012 (Tre Trattoria): Nose was rather closed initially, but later a touch of vanilla, currants, bell pepper. Palate was rather focused but rather flamboyant in it’s expression black currants with cedar spice and subtle eucalyptus. The finish is where this really shines, still showing plenty of primary fruit, mocha and toast with fine tannins that turn a little dry. Great concentration and balance. Similar profile to the ’92, as I can see the green/herbal notes changing to mint in time, but this seems to have more concentration. Drinking pretty well now but on the upswing. 92-94
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4/14/2012 - texaswinelover wrote: 92 Points
Riper stylistically than cabs from the mid 90s. Very nice none the less. I suspect this wine will improve with another 5 years of patience. I didn't get the green notes mentioned by others. Day 2 - Just excellent today. Fleshed out, toasty coffee notes. Lingering long finish. +2 pts.
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2/5/2012 - MichelPlatini wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful wine. Had the wine breathe for 3/4 hours before drinking. Very deep on the opening long aftertaste with the usual dark fruits and chocolate taste. Did not rate it higher because I could not find the complexity and structure from other Dominus vintages yet. This wine has at least a couple of years to evolve. Still a great experience for an impeccably made wine. I was told that Pott from Pott wines actually vinified this excellent bottle.
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1/29/2012 - BadOyster wrote: 89 Points
Purchased at PA state store for <$100, knowing the risk of improper storage. Ullage into the neck and the cork didn't crumble. Decanted x 3 times and sat for a total of 2 hours before first taste. Drank over 4 hours.
Nose: expressive classic cab fruits with obvious barnyard/green notes.
Palate: a little fruit, some chocolate, but a lot more backbone with manly earth, leather, and greens/mint. medium body with firm acid and silky tannins. Opened up over the meal and evolved in the glass. In retrospect, would have decanted for at least 4 hours before starting to drink, but that said, I don't see it achieving the level of fruit that other reviewers are mentioning.
I'd pop the cork on this now at the risk of losing more fruit over time.
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9/25/2011 - the player wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful wine, same notes as previous bottles, needs 4 hours of decanting, lovely balance, refinement, very pretty and rich nose, fat entry, rich palate with black fruits, floral notes, truffles, nice chocolate / mint finish. Always a treat
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8/21/2011 - the player wrote: 94 Points
Paired greatly with steak au poivre; this wine goes with almost anything. Delicious, see previous notes. Still requires 3 - 4 hours of decanting.
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8/17/2011 - the player wrote: 94 Points
I keep going out on a lim scoring the wine better than most recent CT reviewers; I can't help it I love this wine. See previous notes. With 3 hours+ decanting truly a beauty. Drink on!
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7/18/2011 - Gizmo2011 Does not like this wine: 88 Points
quite green ' rosemary like. fruity but not too expressive on nose. high but kicking acidity. aldeaidic in mouth, alcohol well felt. full body, bit bitter
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7/17/2011 - Yagil Likes this wine: 91 Points
2nd Technical tasting course #5 (Wine Road Tel-Aviv): (blind tasting)
dark red some black, transparent, not oxidized yet
earth, mildew, Bret, leather, green rich & complex aroma
Bitter, smooth, chocolate, spicy, some sweetness - seems a Cabernet Sauvignon. Med-balanced acidity, full body, tannic & bitter, pleasant harmony, long aftertaste.
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7/14/2011 - BinVA wrote: 87 Points
over 4 hours this got better but it was pretty flat on the fruit. Tannins settled but still the wine was flat when finished, just never seemed to open up.
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7/13/2011 - cliffkol wrote: 93 Points
Excellent. Decanted two hours. At opening alcoholic on nose, unbalanced. After a couple hours settled down. Great nose. Tannins silky smooth. With more depth it would have been high 90's. (Doris 92. Great wine)
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6/7/2011 - cliffkol wrote: 93 Points
Powerful and fragrant nose of plums, licorice, alcohol. Flavors of dark fruits, plums, leather, earth. Slightly hot on the finish. Well integrated tannins. Would have liked more depth in this wine. A nice introduction to Dominus! Excellent with steak. (Doris 90. big wine). #1 vs 2001 Ciacci Piccollomini d'Aragona Vigna di pianrossa
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6/5/2011 - the player wrote: 94 Points
Outstanding wine, entering a very nice drinking phase. Decanting of an hour + to experience full bodied pleasure. Same notes as previous tastings.
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5/4/2011 - eporres wrote: 94 Points
Decanted and delicious, Napa Grand Vin. Black currant, mellowed tannins, drinking perfectly.
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4/22/2011 - shapida wrote: flawed
corked! damn
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4/2/2011 - elledeca wrote:
deep ruby. intense nose of blackcurrant, blackberry, mint, cedar. Quite jammy on opening, but more lifted a few hours later.
mouth very balanced, nice freshness and long piercing blackcurrant and balsamic notes. soft tannins.
this was very nice and despite the monumental nose goes well with food.
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3/5/2011 - the player wrote: 94 Points
Outstanding wine, decanted for 3 - 4 hours, lovely balance, great nose of black fruits, truffles, plum, slightly flowery fully reflected on the palate. Beautiful crimson color with black core, barely any signs of ageing. Rich, full bodied, fills mid palate with fruit and a very nice and fulfilling finish. This wine is definitely open for business.
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3/1/2011 - James B wrote: 93 Points
Very good to outstanding Napa red. Clear appearance; deep intensity; ruby color. Clean nose; pronounced intensity on the nose. Aroma characteristics include powerful fruit notes, such as cherry, blueberry, black currant, and plums. Spice notes are also evident, with coffee grounds and subtle oak. Also a bit hot after warming in the glass. Palate is dry; low acid; low to medium tannins that have softened with bottle age. Flavor characteristics match the aromas perfectly. Medium to long finish. The wine is well-balanced and is drinking perfectly now, far better than two years ago.
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2/4/2011 - dead puddle Likes this wine: 90 Points
Blind tasted against a Phelps cabernet Napa of the same vintage. Decanted 90min. Temperature of service : 15*C.
Dark color with orange borders. Nose of cherry and blueberry(with both the fruity and fresh acid herbal sides), light oak finish.
Mouth smooth, coffee and fresh black fruits and gentle sappy end. Integrated tannins. Elegant and fine wine but not huge.
I felt a Bordeaux style with a good proportion of Cabernet Franc, so answered Pomerol 1996, thinking it's a good year.
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2/3/2011 - Capt Cutlass Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Sappy, discreet nose with kirsch, blueberry, coffee and alcohol. The palate was still quite closed but round, harmonious and elegant with dark fruits, black olive and stalky tannins. I initially gave it 92 for its restraint and elegance. Tasted again from the same bottle every night (inert gas spray to preserve) for the next few nights and by day 4 it was much more open, showing more Napa character and so velvety in texture so I upped the score. If I had more I would wait 5 years or decant in the morning to drink that night. This is a superb wine!
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1/28/2011 - calicabnut Likes this wine: 93 Points
I love sipping this wine along with some mild colby cheese. What a great match. It has superb fruit flavors, extremely round, nothing out of shape. Soft tannins, mild oak spices .. what comes to mind is simple serenity. VERY Bordeaux-ish. So sorry that was my last bottle of the '02 but glad to have several more of several other vintages just waiting to be old enough to enjoy.
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1/16/2011 - drgrape wrote: 93 Points
Elegant with dark flavors and fruit, smooth tannins, earthy. certainly not big, buy very nice
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1/1/2011 - fsutallywineguy wrote: 93 Points
Based on CT recommendations, we decanted for 3 hours. Beautiful wine with a nose of cassis, smoke, and spices. This is one of the most elegant Napa Valley reds I've tasted. It combines power with finesse. Delicious. Will likely hold our last bottle for 5+ more years to see how it develops. Bravo to Dominus!
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12/29/2010 - tsfab wrote: 93 Points
Nice balance. Good fruit but a bit subdued right now. May be going through a dumb phase right now because this has been a blockbuster wine for a Dominus in past tastings.
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12/24/2010 - Stephan O wrote: 94 Points
(Drank at Antrim 1844 in Taneytown, MD.) Mark me down as one of the believers. A deep, solid, weighty red that gives me the impression of a young and newfangled Left Bank Bordeaux. It's showing lots of cassis and alluring spices, backed by easygoing tannins. It's long and lush. Maybe it's one-dimensional, but it's oh-so-addictive anyhow. Gone before you know it.
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11/30/2010 - acyso wrote: 88 Points
Wine tasting at Janet's (Chicago, IL): Big, bad Napa cab. Just exactly what you expect. Huge nose of cassis and cream, but somewhat vapid on the palate. Unexceptional, especially for the price point.
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10/23/2010 - cubswinws wrote: flawed
Muted and disappointing. Did not taste corked but seemed to be an off bottle.
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10/17/2010 - drgrape wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for one hour. Smooth with dark fruit and some earthiness. Not quite as big as last time I drank it.
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10/8/2010 - mwanasheria wrote: 94 Points
Dark colour. Blueberries, tobacco, chocolate. Still very tannic. Left half bottle for next evening - much better.
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10/5/2010 - pdemaio wrote: 92 Points
big but slightly disjoint wine.
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9/13/2010 - taipanli wrote: 89 Points
No decant. Although good, the wine was uninspiring. Everything in small doses and the finish quite short. Will do the next bottle better justice with a proper decant and hope for an improvement. 50+8+7+17+7=89+
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9/12/2010 - the player wrote: 94 Points
2 hours was all that was needed for the wine to find its balance. What elegance, beautiful dark ruby color, outstanding nose of truffles, dark black and red fruits. Great entry, rich and full in the mid palate and beautiful finish with a hint of mocha / chocolate and mint. Pure finesses. Drinking beautifully but I'll hang on to my remaining bottles for a while.
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9/3/2010 - BillyT wrote: 93 Points
Having mediterranean lamb tonight. Opened and decanted toward a 2 hr decant as recommended by Izzy. Poured some into a glass for tasting. Color is dark purple, venous blood like, but somewhat translucent from center to edges. Legs showing moderately at this point. Immediate nose of bell pepper, dark fruit, and reminds me a great deal of some of the better vintages of Jordan which exudes the pepper when first opened. This wine is exclusive to the Napanook vineyard in Yountville which I don't have much experience with. While the pepper dominates, the alcohol doesn't and there is a nice balance between the pepper, leather, tobacco, earth, chocolate, very herbal at this point, pencil lead, slate. After several minutes a sweetness emerged with vanilla and honey. The beautiful thing here is the lack of 'over oakness' common in many California Cab blends. Velvet on the tongue with a pepper and spice quality I really like settling into finely intergrated tannins with nice balance of fruit and acidity. Medium to full bodied at this point. I will stop here and return with notes in a couple of hours after which I will score the wine.
2 hours in. Mellowed greatly. Pepper on the nose is minimized, color deepened, legs became bold and structured. Fruit began to present with dark chocalate, honey and cream. Well it would have been nice to let this open for several hours but alas we couldn't contain. We left just enough to taste tomorrow.
Day 2 absolutely wonderful. Tannins smoothed nicely and the wine retained its elegant velvety mouth feel without loss of fruit or structure. All gone now, sorry! One final note about the comparison to Jordan. In its day it was equisite and this exceeds any Jordan I have ever had in the last decade of vintages. Truly this wine stands in a class by itself, just ask Izzy :-)
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8/28/2010 - reptodd wrote: 96 Points
Drank at Mike's 8/10.
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7/17/2010 - HOS Likes this wine: 96 Points
For my birthday dinner, wanted a great bottle of wine. Opened this at 9:30am and then decanted at 5:30pm for dinner. Still tight. Finally opened up after another hour. Great nose and incredible concentration of flavors. Black currant, dark cherry, dark chocolate, truffle. Full bodied with a long finish. Good backbone of silkly tannins. This still has another 5-10 years development in the bottle before it reaches maturity. Wonderful wine.
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5/30/2010 - Urodude wrote: 94 Points
Outstanding as always
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5/23/2010 - pakabear Likes this wine: 93 Points
Night with the boys, very well balanced, good structure as most Dominus' have. I would like to see some deeper fruit but I'm nitpicking.
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5/9/2010 - ptelgenh wrote: 91 Points
Took a long time to open up. Woody, herbal and medicinal upon opening. Decanted for two hours which provided much benefit. Rewarded with dense dark fruit. Mineral, mint and black currants. Long finish with medium tannins. Still plenty of time on this one.
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5/3/2010 - Yiannis wrote: 97 Points
Wow! Dark purple. Expressive and complex nose with graphite, cassis, cedar, spices and capsicum. Mid-full bodied, perfectly structured with firm but fine grained tanins, opulent fruit and balancing acidity. Everything is in perfect harmony here. A great combination of power and elegance. Long finish. Has a long life ahead but it is already so seductive. A masterpiece in every sense of the word.
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5/2/2010 - Stefanos T. wrote: 94 Points
Deep ruby with very narrow rim. The nose was exuberant! And elusive.. Every whiff and the aromas were different! Astonishing purity of fruit, rasberries and blueberries and then graphite. Could not guess that this was a Cabernet blend, no cedar for me.. In the mouth it was pure silk, lingering with amazing freshness and elegance. An astonishing wine, to drink now or cellar for 20 more years.
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4/24/2010 - Miceri wrote: 94 Points
Dark purplish black; pencil, sweet tone, masculine, deep deep blackberries; seems slightly closed even after some time in the glass. Not as "giving" as the Ridge Montebello also tasted
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4/18/2010 - Pearls_b4Swine wrote: 92 Points
Not remotely ready yet, but will be a fine wine
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3/13/2010 - bubbachumps wrote: 94 Points
2005 Syrah Horizontal representing 4 continents (Casa Tomek): Tasting note from memory of a heavy drinking night. Dark and well balalnced, definitely get a leafy character coming through on the nose (I suspect from the cab franc component). Definitely still some structure to this wine, but concealed well by the fruit. I need to try this again with a clear head, as I had nearly 2 btls of wine before this glass.
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12/22/2009 - BenRoberts wrote: 93 Points
Lovely nose which really dragged you into the wine with its hints of dried fruit, sweet pastries and warm fruit compote. A nicely balanced wine, not overtly fruitforward which offered up a very pleasant finish with notes of raisins and butterscotch. I still think this wine could use a few years before it reaches its peak.
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12/6/2009 - steffenpelz wrote:
20 Years of Dominus - Part 6 - The Early 2000s: A big stylistic shift from the 2001 vintage to the 2002 vintage. Raspberry jam, very primary, black fruit, some tree bark, but some odd acidic twinge that seemed slightly forced. Might turn out to be a great wine, but it's definitely different from it predecessors.
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9/8/2009 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 93 Points
Bright aromas of currants, coffee beans, with some floral notes as well Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Solid. Needs time. (Best from 2011-2022) - JD93+
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7/24/2009 - profiler54 wrote: 96 Points
Decanted for 2 hours and tasted blind along with 16 other highly rated 2002 Cali Cabs. Most french tasting wine of the lot.. Big fruit and excellent balance and with some nice french oak and earthiness.. Very pleasant finish this wine finished near the top of the pack... and it beat several Parker 100 pt wines.. ie Sloan, Harlan, Paul Hobbs Beckstoffer To Kalon...
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6/7/2009 - Arcturus wrote: 95 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. Black as ink. Brooding, deep, rich nose of dark fruits, earth, blackberry, currant. Great weight and balance with a velvety midpalate and a long finish. This is coming along nicely. Drink or hold. 95
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5/14/2009 - vinojones wrote: 93 Points
Drk red/black;root beer /caramel nose ? from sl oxidation;Big smooth body, sl raisined fruit, cranberry tartness;Pomerol-like sophistication, fruit>tannin; sl hot long finish
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2/14/2009 - A&C wrote: 92 Points
Drank this side-by-side with a 2004 Mas Dois Priorat, and the Priorat blew the Dominus away, at least at this stage of development. The Dominus was still quite tannic, and needs more time. It was too early to drink this wine. I would give it at least another 5 years, as it is a massive wine. The predominant flavors at this stage were tobacco, cherry and leather. Nice, but needs more time to be great.
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2/12/2009 - HOS wrote: 93 Points
Bought this at the restaurant after a two day meeting. We were fried and wanted to get something nice. It was a good value and, even better, the company paid. Had it decanted and waited 15 minutes which was not even close to being long enough. Took another 30 minutes in the glasses before it started to open up. Nice nose of dark fruits, wet rock well balanced with oak. Well balanced mix of fruit, vanilla with oaky overtones. Long finish with strong tannins. I wanted to get this because I've had three in the cellar for 3 years and was wondering. I'll hold those another 2-4 years before trying this again and will go with a very long decant before I try and approach it.
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1/31/2009 - nytiger wrote: 91 Points
took half hour to open up then great
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12/7/2008 - drgrape wrote: 95 Points
Elegant and full of flavor. Dark purple color. Smooth tannins and balance. An excellent American bordeaux.
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10/23/2008 - Cheryl wrote:
Matriarch, Dunn, Insignia, Dominus, Shafer and My First WOTN! (Skinner's Loft, Jersey City, NJ): Ridiculous amounts of alcohol that never blew off. More akin to the Dunn style than the Phelps/Bond style. Not for me.
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9/22/2008 - markcvino wrote: 95 Points
Drinking very well.
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8/29/2008 - JJG1961 wrote: 90 Points
I would leave this vintage down a while longer.
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6/26/2008 - bulletbob wrote: 96 Points
Best Dominus since 1994-RP
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6/19/2008 - win wrote: 90 Points
Deep red, solid wine with aromas dominated by ripe cherry. Clean finish.
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5/18/2008 - Enfantterrible wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for about 45 minutes before the first sip and took another 45 minutes to finish the bottle. Deep purple color with bright red rim. Very intense bouquet of graphite and cassis, with layers of dark fruit and cherry emerging over time. The nose was more complex than the taste - fairly straightforward Cabernet flavors in the mouth, but perfectly balanced and well integrated. Would be interesting to taste again in 10 years.
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12/27/2007 - gr8r84u wrote: 94 Points
Wow... I really loved this wine. Pretty much right out of the bottle this was signing. Decanted it but not sure why, we drank the bottle in less than 2hrs. Sweet dusty tannins and beautiful red and black fruits were a perfect match for NY Strip carpetbagger style. Haven't had any other vintages to compare it to but we really enjoyed this one.
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11/24/2007 - gotapex wrote: 94 Points
Great wine, very smooth, with well integrated tannins even at this age. Will hold rest for a few years.
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9/26/2007 - rothdog wrote: 94 Points
This is a great wine, maybe even a classic. Deep ruby/purple at the core and a lighter, garnet red at the rim. The alluring nose is ripe with blackberries, cassis, wet stone, vanilla and anise. The oak is present, but very nicely integrated and lends a hand only when asked. On the palate the '02 Dominus delivers tons of ripe, red raspberries, black cherries, blackberries, crushed rocks and mocha wrapped around a core of firm, finely grained, sweet tannins, which gracefully expand and unfold while contributing to this wine's sixty second finish. The '02 Dominus is evolving at a glacial pace for a Napa red, and its substantial structure suggests that it will be at least another five years before this wine is fully mature. Decanting this wine several hours in advance of consuming it will greatly enhance the wine's performance. (94+ pts.)
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8/7/2007 - Lainie wrote: 89 Points
Needs more time. Meaty, sweet entry. Smooth. Earthy, hay finish.
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4/7/2007 - Eric wrote: 85 Points
Dumbfounded by Dominus (Kirkland, WA): Very intense pickle barrel, not an inspiring nose at all. A rather searing palate with tart cranberry fruit. An OK wine.
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3/30/2007 - gnihei wrote: 93 Points
Nice deep purple/red color. Nice fruit bouquet up front. Very smooth with a long finish.
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3/22/2007 - winefool wrote: 94 Points
Dominus Vertical Dinner (onesixtyblue): Full purple red color. Huge nose of red and black fruit. Mmmmn, big black sweet liqueur fruit with a long firm finish. Another great 02 Napa cab... 94+pts.
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3/22/2007 - Nanda wrote: 94 Points
DOMINUS VERTICAL DINNER (160 Blue - Chicago, IL): Big and brawny. Currants, vanilla, creoste. Lots of complexity and depth of fruit. My favorite of the younger Dominus --- a great wine for drinking in 15-20 years.
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1/26/2007 - gr8r84u wrote: 95 Points
Great nose right out of the bottle. Notes of coffee and mocha. Dry dark fruits, firm tannins. After an hour or so really starts to come around. Lots of structure, layer after layer of dusty fruits and a 60 sec + finish. This easily has 10 or 15 years until it peaks. Best consumed with food!
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12/17/2006 - bdenuyl wrote: 89 Points
A pleasant Dominus with good balance and moderate depth, but not on par with other vintages.
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10/29/2006 - gorm wrote: 92 Points
Garnet with watery edges. A wonderful and sweet, but a bit restrained nose. Medium-bodied with great balance and immidiate pleasure, but also a bit closed. Rating: 92+
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10/19/2006 - GolferChris wrote: 95 Points
Wine Spectator Grand Tasting (Marriott Hotel, San Francisco, CA): Lush, complex and deep bordeaux style Napa Cab. Aromas/flavors of licorice, blackberry and currant. Fine, silky tannins. Wonderful, long 45+ second finish.
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9/16/2006 - jmd60611 wrote: 93 Points
Surprisingly, very approachable this early in its life span. This dominus was drinking beautiful, with everyone at the table wanting more. Med to full bodied, juicy ripe fruit with balance and integration, good to great wine
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5/18/2006 - Dave Dalluge wrote: 92 Points
Winestreet Tastes Spain and California: Dark red color. The nose is subdued, showing some dark fruit and earthy elements. In the mouth this is full bodied with dark fruit and smokey elements. The fruit is very concentrated and mouth coating. The finish is tannic and of good length. This is a quality wine that is currently a little tight. I would expect it to develop nicely with additional time in the bottle.
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2/27/2006 - sdatl wrote: 91 Points
Very refined, somewhat soft with clear Cabernet flavor profile; Very nicely done, but I can see why some complain that there is not enough length.
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1/4/2006 - SeaBud wrote: 94 Points
Just a baby, but well integrated for being (too) young. Hints of leather and black fruit.
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12/18/2005 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Young Dominus Vertical: Wine tasting. An interesting contrast with its 2001 counterpart, this was more ripe and lush. Big concentrated black currant and cassis aromas to start. Not a particularly subtle wine, but good textures come through on finish.
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