Dominus Estate Napa Valley 2010

100 points Robert Parker: "Composed of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, the stunning, full-bodied 2010 Dominus boasts an exceptional perfume of hoisin sauce, licorice, underbrush, forest floor, plums, black currants and jammy cherries intertwined with hints of cedar, baking spices and oak. Full-bodied and voluptuously textured, the 2010 is on a slightly faster evolutionary track than the 2009 (somewhat of an anomaly for these two vintages). This exquisite as well as prodigious 2010 can be drunk young, but it should age effortlessly for 20-25 years. Bravo! (Oct 2013)"

99 points James Suckling: "This is a solid wine with a flawless nose of dark berries, sweet tobacco, tar and warm stones. Subtle and complex. Full body with a phenomenal mouthfeel and texture that is wonderfully silky. The finish is so incredible with caramalized orange peel, berries and lightly toasted oak. Very structured. Stony. Try after 2018. (5/15/14)"

98+ points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2010 Dominus is one of the unquestioned stars of the evening. While some of the 2010s can be enjoyed young, Dominus is a powerhouse that will require a number of years to soften. It is a bit of a shame the 2010 is served early in this dinner, as it is truly magnificent. Tasted over several hours and into the next day, the 2010 only continued to grow. A wine of baritone-like depth and explosive structure, the Dominus is a long-distance runner. On this night it is dark, imposing and totally vertical in its sense of structure. The firm tannins beg for patience. Today, my impression is that Dominus will be one of the last 2010s to open up. Drink: 2022-2040. (Jun 2015)"

97 points Stephen Tanzer (Vinous): "Bright, deep ruby. Ineffable scents of dark berries, graphite, minerals, licorice, violet, dark chocolate and sage. Wonderfully suave, fine-grained and plush but light on its feet, and every bit as complex in the mouth as on the nose. Really impeccably balanced, classy wine with uncanny precision and inner-mouth aromatic lift and a resounding, endlessly building aftertaste that leaves the taste buds quivering. A wine of great finesse and energy, not to mention noble palate-saturating, fully ripe tannins. This is more about subtlety than weight, but is still hard to scrape off your palate. This already coats every square millimeter of the palate but may yet expand further. All of this fruit was harvested in October. Drink: 2021-2038. (May 2020)"

Producer notes: "The Dominus 2010 displays compelling notes of black cherries and plums as well as a hint of graphite and sandalwood. With a round and sweet attack, the chiseled and deftly polished tannins give a savory evolution. Its finish is long and replete with cedar, anise and cacao. The 2010 vintage is composed of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. In recent years the Napanook vineyard has undergone an extensive replanting program. This, coupled with a rigorous selection of lots for the final blend resulted in the smallest quantity of Dominus produced since 1984."