The Evolution of Dominus

How vintner Christian Moueix molded a benchmark Napa estate, shown through a vertical tasting of 14 vintages of the Cabernet from 2021 back to 1983

Christian Moueix with winemaker Tod Mostero in the vineyard
Christian Moueix (standing) with winemaker Tod Mostero (Kelly Puleio)

“When I arrived, there was really nothing here,” says Christian Moueix, describing his first days at the helm of Dominus Estate. “There was one shed and one tractor. That first harvest, I remember driving exactly 20 miles in the tractor with a double hopper in tow to take the grapes to Rombauer to be crushed, because we didn’t have our own facility. And when I got there, there was a line of growers waiting to drop off their grapes. So I had to wait for a few hours with the fruit sitting in the hot sun. Looking back, it’s a fond memory now.”

Moueix admits that he can see things fondly now because so much has changed since that time. Find out how Moueix made Dominus one of the most praised Cabernet producers in Napa and get senior editor James Molesworth's tasting notes from a vertical tasting of 14 vintages from 2021 back to 1983! 

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