772 | Wine | Napa Valley, 86 or higher, 3 L

"Rough-hewn, dense and chewy, with a strong herbal presence mixed with drying sage, dark berry and underbrush notes. Rustic and rugged".

"Tight and concentrated, with a dense, rich, chewy beam of dried currant, mineral, graphite, black cherry and blackberry fruit that's intense and full-blown, both flexing its muscle while displaying deft balance. Ends with a compact, layered finish."

"Rich and complex, with a focused, full-bodied core of earth, currant, mineral, tar, cherry and spice, firming up on the finish. Wonderful depth and dimension that cellaring should reward."

"Sweet, smoky, meaty aromas interwoven with melted asphalt, camphor, blackberry, cassis, and charcoal scents emerge from the complex aromatics. In the mouth, the wine is full-bodied, displaying sweet tannin, a concentrated mouthfeel, and a long, heady finish with substantial fruit, glycerin, and extract. It should drink beautifully for 20+ years." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"A barrel sample of the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection offers terrific fruit intensity and purity, a more laid-back style, a meaty, chewy texture, and impressive opulence as well as length. It should evolve for 10-15 years." 92-94 pts. Reviewed by Robert Parker

"A blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, the wine exhibits sweet, subtle notes of underbrush, earth, black cherry, currant, coffee, tapenade, and even a hint of truffle. This is a wine of impressive finesse, richness, and superb purity of fruit along with a full-bodied texture. It should drink beautifully for 15 or more years as well." Reviewed by Robert Parker. 94-96 pts.

"Sweet creme de cassis fruit intermixed with incense, charcoal, and hints of asphalt and creosote, along with some subtle smoky barrel smells. The wine has a big, substantial mouthfeel, firm but sweet tannins, and a generous, savory finish with outstanding purity and extract. This wine is more backward, as one might expect in this vintage, but it promises to evolve for 25+ years as well." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"A deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by a classic bouquet of violets, graphite, blueberries, and creme de cassis with hints of licorice and cedar. Stunningly pure and elegant as well as substantial and authoritatively flavored, this is a long, rich, concentrated wine with the grace of a ballerina." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"A big, ripe, intense style. Potent, with rich currant, mint and cedary oak flavors that fan out on the palate and then clamp down on the finish."

"This wine is a fleshy, silky-textured, opulent wine with a gorgeous nose of roasted herbs, coffee, jammy black cherry and plum-like fruit.... Asian spice, licorice, and blackberry and cherry notes with tobacco spice all add to this complex, very involved, yet gorgeously symmetrical Dominus. The wine is medium to full-bodied, very concentrated, and silky-textured. It is gorgeous to drink now, but should age easily for 10-15 years." Reviewed by Robert Parker, Dec 2000.