Dominus Estate - 2018 (3L)

99+ points Robert Parker

Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Dominus slowly emerges from the glass with profound notes of blackcurrant cordial, ripe black plums, boysenberries and Black Forest cake with hints of violets, star anise, cracked black pepper, raspberry leaves and pencil lead, plus a touch of garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers impactful black fruit layers, creating a beguiling sense of richness that is beautifully countered by invigorating freshness and great poise, framed by super ripe, plush tannins and beautiful tension, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note and, finally, lots of mineral sparks. For all that it is at the moment, one cannot help but feel that this 2018 is holding something back. Give it a good five years in bottle, at least, and then get set for what I suspect will be a mind-blowing transformation over the next 30 years+. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

The grace, purity and precision of this 2018 Dominus is absolutely captivating right now. And yet, poised on the brink of perfection, its promise of something more with time in bottle is at the heart of its allure. Embrace this wine for the very fact that it doesn't give you everything up front and all at once.

97 points Wine Spectator

This is a very serene and quietly confident wine that dovetails with the vintage’s overall terroir-driven profile. Settling in for the long haul, with the fruit still showing well though it’s starting to cede ground to the immense structure, this is driven by a humus and cast iron side in the end. Reveals richness and drive, with a wide range of tobacco, savory and alder accents. When the fruit remerges fully after cellaring, this will be every bit the benchmark. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. -- Non-blind Dominus retrospective (August 2022). Best from 2024 through 2040. 4,000 cases made.