Dominus 2017 has been released at £1,900 per 12×75, down 13.6% on the 2016 opening price of £2,200.
Antonio Galloni of Vinous scored the wine 98+ points, calling it “one of the truly epic, grand wines of the vintage. Rich, dense and explosive, with tremendous concentration and sheer power”. He added, “there is no question that Dominus belongs among the elite in 2017; it is simply a breath-taking”.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown awarded 97+ points, commenting, “there was about 50% of a normal crop this year for the 2017 Dominus, due to strict selection [and] 2,800 cases were made”. She found the wine “sashays nonchalantly out of the glass with graceful notions of potpourri, forest floor, crushed rocks, Ceylon tea and licorice with a core of black currant cordial, chocolate-covered cherries, mulberries and preserved plums plus a waft of garrigue.
James Suckling gave the wine 97 points, mentioning “very intense aromas of fruit, yet complex subtlety”.
Those seeking a perfect vintage may look towards the 2015 and 2016 which are available at a discount to other 100-point vintages. Just one point lower, are the 2007, 2008, 2009, which, while providing additional bottle age, are priced comparatively to today’s release.
Dominus second wine Napanook 2017 was also released. It is being offered by the international trade at £570 per 12×75, a 5% discount to the 2016 market price (£600). Galloni awarded the wine 93 points and noted the newest release, “is one of the very finest Napa Valley Cabernets readers will find in this price range”.
