Dominus 2020 captures the tension between Napa Valley power and Bordeaux finesse. Crafted primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Cabernet Franc, it reveals deep layers of blackcurrant, plum, cocoa, and graphite framed by velvety tannins and remarkable freshness. Despite the heat and low yields of the vintage, the wine maintains its hallmark precision and poise, finishing with floral lift and seamless balance. A timeless expression of meticulous vineyard care and restrained elegance — a modern classic from the heart of Yountville.

Decanter | D 99
Published: Sep 28, 2023
Drink: 2023-2035 

With a good decant, the compact, quiet bouquet of this 2020 Dominus begins to show off, exhibiting perfumed aromatics of dark-toned berry fruit, blood orange, and cocoa nibs. It boasts impressive staying power with a real depth of concentration of fruit. Long strands of velvety tannins are interwoven around pure and symphonic black-toned fruit, while bright and present acidity provides the kind of lift that makes the wine seem almost featherweight. A beautiful red florality envelops the finish. Winemaker Tod Mostero said that hours before the Glass Fire on 27 September, they had just brought in the last of their grapes. It's a good thing, too, because it's a splendid wine and deserves to share the spotlight with the best wines of the vintage. Aged 16-18 months in 40% new French oak.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 98
Published: Feb 14, 2023

Aromas of blackcurrants, black cherries, hints of graphite, wet earth, and lavender. Sandalwood. Full-bodied with an impressive and refined structure that runs deep and vertical in the wine. Chewy. Hints of chocolate and hazelnut at the end. Needs five or six years to soften.

The Wine Advocate | RP 95
Published: Jun 8, 2023
Drink: 2025-2040

An excellent wine, even if not a great Dominus, the 2020 Dominus delivers waves of dark fruit—think predominantly cassis. A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, it's full-bodied and richly textured, perhaps a bit warm and open-knit because of the summer's heat, but with a long, velvety finish attractively tinged with mocha and dark chocolate.

Director of Viticulture and Winemaking Tod Mostero pointed out that low-rainfall years—like 2020—can be some of the best performers at Dominus. That said, when rainfall is just a bit more than half of the average of the past 25 years, it can't help but impact the wine. Coupled with the season's warmth, yields were down substantially.

According to Mostero, the grapes were going through veraison by the end of July, and were then hit by three successive heat episodes: August 13–15, with temperatures hitting 102, 106 and 108 degrees Fahrenheit; August 18–19, with temps peaking at 102 and 106; and September 5–7, with highs of 105, 112 and 114. Even with the fruiting-zone misters, which can drop temperatures by up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, and the site's dry farming, crews had to go through the vineyard to drop raisined and sunburned fruit. After picking, the fruit was then sorted extensively by hand and run through an optical sorter. Harvesting wrapped up prior to the Glass Fire ignition on September 27. "We set up HEPA filters to try to keep the smoky air out of the winery as much as we could," said Mostero. "When we taste, smoke isn't an issue, but we taste the heat spikes; and we produced only 30% of a normal crop."

Dominusestate.com

TASTING NOTE
Floral, jasmine tea, saddle leather, blue plum, weightless, lifted with a resonant finish.

VINTAGE SUMMARY
The vintage was characterized by a dry winter and spring, with a total of 17” of rain from July 2019 to June 2020 (the historical average: 31”).
With warm temperatures in the spring and our well-drained soils, the vines developed balanced shoot growth. Summer temperatures were consistently warm, allowing for a rapid and homogenous ripening. Fastidious selection by hand as well as optical sorting were critical in eliminating any berries impacted by the heat. The end result was a very small crop of good quality