Dominus Estate Napa Valley 2005

99 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2005 Dominus is deep garnet in color, with a touch of brick. It needs a lot of shaking to release notes of baked blackcurrants, fruitcake, and blueberry compote, plus hints of baking chocolate, licorice, dried mint, and pencil lead, plus a waft of wood smoke. The concentrated, hedonically styled, full-bodied palate is jam-packed with layers of black and blue fruit preserves, framed by wonderfully ripe, grainy tannins and well-integrated acidity, finishing very long, profound, and shimmery. Alcohol 14.1%. Drink: 2023-2038. (Mar 2023)"

98 points Robert Parker: "This blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot (note that rarely is any Merlot utilized at the historic Napanook Estate in Yountville). The alcohol, by California standards, is a relatively modest 14.1%. Blending the best of French savoir faire with the brilliant fruit purity and ripeness of Napa Valley, Moueix has turned in another tour de force that seems far superior today than it did when it was first released. This is one of the vintage’s greatest wines. Dense purple and youthful, with a glorious nose of earth, blackcurrants, sweet black cherries and incense, the oak is pushed way in the background, as it is in all of the Moueix wines, and the result is a wine of terroir, of great originality and authenticity. This full-bodied classic from Dominus can be drunk now, but really won’t hit its prime for another 4-5 years and last at least another two decades or more. Drink: 2019-2040. (6/28/15)"

96 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "Just a fabulous wine in every sense of the word. Still young, the wine is deeply colored. The aromatics show some maturity as the sweet, black fruits are complicated by the earth, tobacco, dark cherry, licorice and thyme scents. Full bodied, rich, round and fleshy, the wine is fresh, sensuous and displays a good purity of fruit in the finish. I just love the style of this wine. (Sep 2016)"

San Francisco Chronicle 'Top 100 Wine of 2008': "Christian Moueix's project showed off this banner year with a more reserved style. Radiant Cabernet aromas of tobacco and a lifted graphite tone mix with dusty plum. The palate is still wound up and young, but brightness and potential course through this highly structured wine. The wine's still in its infancy, but it's wonderful evidence that this Napa-Bordeaux alliance very much remains on its mission and is as good as ever."

95 points Stephen Tanzer (Vinous): "Dark red-ruby. Knockout nose combines raspberry, plum, mocha, game, minerals and tobacco. Offers alluring Right Bank sweetness but also superb energy and definition; a lovely combination of Old World nuance and dark Napa Valley fruit. As suave and fine-grained as this wine is, it's also penetrating and gripping, stony and high-pitched. Finishes with terrific tannic spine and mineral reserve. This very youthful wine still has upside. Drink: 2018-2030. (May 2016)"

Stephen Brook (The Finest Wines of California): "Very deep red. Juicy black-currant nose, with considerable finesse. Plump and full-bodied, with black-fruit flavors, fine-grained tannins, and exemplary elegance and length. (2011)"