2003 Dominus Estate. Moueix’s 20th Vintage Anniversary.
It started when Christian Mouiex was going to school at U.C. Davis back in the 60’s. By ‘69, Moueix was finished at U.C.D. In ‘82 he began a partnership in the joint-venture with Robin Lail and Marcia Smith, dubbed “Dominus.”
In 1983, the vineyards gave birth to the first vintage of Dominus. Christian has since been running things at the estate, and purchased the estate outright in 1995.
Twenty years later, Moueix released his 20th vintage, the bottling of 2003. Initially it smelled like a true bordeaux. But it morphed into a beautiful, classically styled Napa Meritage. Simply magical.
Initially, it showed tart Bing cherry, with cassis undertones and a dusty graphite on the nose. After an hour, the nose changed to a beautiful stewed plum. The cassis turned jammy, and it developed the most incredible dark violet floral aroma. The slight lead pencil and cedar notes still remain in the background.
This is a classic. And it shows that exceptional winemaking skills can overcome a less-than-average vintage. This gets 90 points on my scale. Moueix did well with this vintage. I wouldn’t want to age this wine much longer, but that’s just my style.
Bodega del Tupun Vulcano Grand Reserva 2005
This is a great wine. It took the gold medal at Denver International Wine Festival, in the “Other New World” category. And this wine is deserving of the honor. Hailing from Tupungato, a sub region of Mendoza, Argentina, this is a blend of 50% Bonarda and 50% Malbec. Planted in sandy soil at an altitude of 3600ft, the vines are grown on a high trellis.
This full bodied wine sees 18 months in oak. Aromas of dark fruits, vanilla and cocoa, tobacco and truffle lead into the flavors of blueberry, currant and stewed bing cherries. It finishes with a refreshing acidity and spice that goes on and on. There’s also a minerality on the finish that adds a nice complexity. I would rate this wine 90 points on my scale, and would highly recommend it at it’s $20 price tag.
I would recommend pairing this wine with grilled or stewed meets. Also pair with stronger cheeses such as Camembert or Teleggio.