Wine: 2006 Dominus
Region: California
Sokolin Price: $109/btl
Rating: 96 RP
The highlight of this past weekend for us was a blind tasting that included some wines that really wowed us. The line-up, in chronological order, went like this: 1975 Mouton Rothschild, 1989 Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 1989 Mouton Rothschild, 1999 Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino, 2004 Haut Brion & 2006 Dominus. Since all of these incredible wines were the main act of the night, we served a rather simple meal that started with several cheeses, and ended with barbeque ribs, grilled skirt steak, boiled potatoes and baby snap peas. Wine lovers will have no problem understanding that wine took center stage, and the food, while delicious, took its place somewhere in the background.
A little about each wine:
--The 1975 Mouton Rothschild (the year Andy Warhol painted the label) was unanimously identified as a Bordeaux wine by most members of the group, and all agreed that it was probably a vintage of the '80s decade or older. This was determined mostly from the wine's somewhat amber hue at the edges, and the light but elegant finish that didn't seem to linger on the palate. If you have any of this wine in 750ml bottles, you'll want to consume it soon.
--The 1989 Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was a great follow-up to the Mouton since it really had power and muscle behind it. If the '75 Mouton was on its way out, this Cali wine was full of life. Loaded with dark berries and jam, hints of tobacco and smoke, this wine had a nice long finish. This was definitely a stand-out wine of the night. We have found that well made older California wines from the 1970s and '80s have similar characteristics of the terroir on the left bank of Bordeaux. Interesting, indeed.
--1989 Mouton Rothschild came next, and it was an absolutely amazing wine! A top wine from one of Bordeaux's legendary vintages, it possessed depth, complexity and balance all intermingled to make one seriously elegant and sexy wine. The wine exhibited hints of cedar, oak and lead pencil, which is exactly what we love about the Pauillac region in Bordeaux. It is fully mature and is definitely drinking well now.
--The 1999 Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino was quite an experience. Tasting a wine that is 100% Sangiovese and one that has evolved over 10 years is fun and mesmerizing. The nose had hints of dark fruit and licorice. On the palette, the medium bodied wine was robust and full of berry flavors. The finish seemed to linger on and on. Incredible...
--The 2004 Haut Brion was next, and one word comes to mind with that wine - vanilla! It was packed with toasty, vanilla, butter cream flavors, and definitely threw the group off. Only one member of the group accurately identified it as a Bordeaux wine. Because of its strong, intense flavors that were very much alive, some thought it was from the Rhone region. The finish was slightly short at first, but as time went on, the wine picked up weight. This wine is a baby. It has not even begun to evolve and those who have some in their cellar, let it sit and get excited.
--And over 5 hours later, we ended the night with a bang, as we finished off a bottle of 2006 Dominus, a top California wine and a Bordeaux blend, the dominant grape being Cabernet Sauvignon (91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot). There is no mistaking this for anything but a Cabernet Sauvignon, especially with its deep, purple/inky color and its fruit-forward effect. It can be described as having a perfumed nose of summer flowers and fresh black fruit as if walking through a farmer's market. On the palette, we experienced a very well balanced wine with perfect acidity and tannins to make a great full bodied wine with a superb finish. It was a top wine of the night! Robert Parker has called this "One of the finest wines of the vintage..." Once you taste this wine, it's easy to see why Parker described it as one of the finest. It is so deserving of the 96 points Parker awarded it. Of all the wines that made up this blind tasting, the 2006 Dominus was the highest Parker rated wine. Many of the lower point wines mentioned above are almost all more expensive than the Dominus. And that makes the 2006 Dominus a great buy for $109/btl.
Our recommendation: Whether you are a Cabernet lover or not, the 2006 Dominus (sadly only 6,500 cases produced), will make a nice addition to your collection or to your next blind tasting with your fellow wine lovers. It shows well and has the ability to please a lot of palates. Keep in mind that Christian Moueix, the famed owner of Chateau Petrus, also owns Dominus.