A vivid expression of its unique site, Dominus is a profound and powerful wine, exemplifying purity. With articulated fruit and polished tannins, the wine has elegance, complexity, great length and improves with age.
Winemaker Notes
The 1996 Vintage exhibits a deep garnet robe with ripe flavors of blackberries, dried cherries and hints of violets, allspice, vanilla and tobacco. Silky tannins and a long and complex finish balance its warm, luscious and elegant body.
As with all Dominus wines, we recommend decanting this wine prior to serving, to allow it to develop its full potential.
Professional Ratings
- 95Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 1996 Dominus, a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot, tips the scales at 14.2% alcohol. Although this offering lacks the power, intensity, and compelling characteristics of the 1991 and 1994, it is not far off the pace of those two monumental wines. A super nose of roasted coffee, chocolate, dried herbs, black fruits and kirsch is both intense and persuasive. The wine displays terrific richness, medium to full body, low acidity, a succulent, opulent texture, and superb purity. This beautifully made 1996 is one of the few wines that has successfully tamed the vintage's elevated tannin level. It should be relatively drinkable upon its release, yet evolve nicely for two decades. Impressive!
- 94James Suckling
Really impressed how balanced and refined the wine is. The texture is so silky and beautiful, and the fruit pure, even more satisfying. Perfect to drink now.