{"product_id":"napanook-napa-valley-2023","title":"Napanook Napa Valley 2023","description":"\u003ch2\u003eNapanook Napa Valley 2023\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2023 is a wonderful year for Napanook: an exceptionally long growing season gave the historic Yountville terroir all the time it needed to develop ripeness, freshness, and depth simultaneously. The result is exactly what this wine represents within Dominus Estate: silky and seductive in its youth, yet possessing the layering, earthy tension, and structure to continue developing for years to come.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eVineyards and region\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll grapes come from the historic Napanook Vineyard in Yountville, on the west side of Napa Valley.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLocation \/ Origin:\u003c\/strong\u003e The vineyard is situated in a natural amphitheater at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains. George Yount planted some of the first vines in Napa Valley here as early as 1838, making Napanook one of the region's historic vineyard sites.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e The vines root deeply in rich, gravelly clay loam. The plots slope at approximately 3–10%, allowing excess water to drain naturally, while underground springs provide a natural water supply via ancient riverbeds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVineyard Management:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dominus Estate farms organically and without routine irrigation. The 134-acre Napanook Vineyard currently has 102 acres under vine; deep rooting and a living soil are central to the estate's approach.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2023 Vintage:\u003c\/strong\u003e From July 2022 to June 2023, 51 inches of rain fell compared to a historical average of 31 inches. A mild spring and veraison occurring about 2 weeks later than usual extended the growing season, followed by a harvest under excellent conditions between October 7 and 18.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eVinification and maturation\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cellar approach at Dominus Estate is intentionally restrained and focused on preserving the character of each batch as purely as possible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest \u0026amp; Selection:\u003c\/strong\u003e After harvesting, the clusters are selected entirely by hand, followed by optical sorting of the individual grapes. Only precisely selected fruit continues into the cellar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFermentation \u0026amp; Extraction:\u003c\/strong\u003e During vinification, gentle pump-overs are applied to gradually extract color, aroma, and tannin from the skins. This controlled extraction contributes to the polished and silky structure of Napanook.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaturation \/ Oak Aging:\u003c\/strong\u003e The 2023 vintage matures for 20 months in French oak, of which 20% is new. The relatively controlled share of new wood provides extra layers of cedar, cocoa, and spices while keeping the fruit and the earthy side of the vineyard center stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGrape composition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCabernet Sauvignon dominates the 2023 blend, supplemented by small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e92% Cabernet Sauvignon – Napanook Vineyard:\u003c\/strong\u003e Forms the powerful backbone with cassis, dark fruit, graphite, and a firm yet refined tannin structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e4% Cabernet Franc – Napanook Vineyard:\u003c\/strong\u003e Adds extra aromatic lift, spiciness, and refinement to the mid-palate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e4% Petit Verdot – Napanook Vineyard:\u003c\/strong\u003e Provides extra color, structure, and dark spice, and enhances the length of the finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTasting notes and serving suggestions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDeep in color with black cherry, cassis, and pomegranate, followed by graphite, earth, cocoa, and a fine citrus zest. The palate is silky and vibrant, with polished tannins and a beautiful tension between ripe dark fruit and fresh acids. The finish is long, layered, and earthy, with cedar, spices, and cocoa continuing to unfold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eServing temperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e Serve this Napa blend at 16–18 °C and give the young 2023 about 30 minutes of air in a decanter, so that the dark fruit, earthy nuances, and fine tannins come fully to the fore.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood pairing:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wonderful with ribeye, tenderloin, roasted lamb, game, or a refined dish with mushrooms and a rich jus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAccolades\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2023 vintage has been exceptionally well received by international wine critics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e97 points, James Suckling (2023):\u003c\/strong\u003e Praised for blueberry, blackberry, stony minerality, chocolate, cedar, and nutmeg, with polished tannins and a long, silky finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e94 points, The Wine Advocate (2023):\u003c\/strong\u003e Joe Czerwinski commends the combination of cherries, earthy notes, and subtle vanilla, followed by a lush structure, soft tannins, and a long finish with black olive and black tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e94 points, The Wine Palate (2023):\u003c\/strong\u003e Lisa Perrotti-Brown highlights black cherry, cassis, wild sage, graphite, and black pepper, carried by powerful layers of fruit, great freshness, and a long, earthy finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e93 points, Vinous (2023):\u003c\/strong\u003e Antonio Galloni describes a deep and lush Napanook with black cherry, lavender, dried herbs, and graphite, which already shows much charm at this relatively young age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e92 points, Jeb Dunnuck (2023):\u003c\/strong\u003e Praised for cassis, tobacco leaf, graphite, and forest floor, with ripe polished tannins, integrated acidity, and sufficient structure for 10–15 years of further development.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e4.3 stars, Vivino (2023):\u003c\/strong\u003e A particularly strong consumer score for the exact vintage of this Napa Valley blend.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eMore information about Dominus Estate\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChristian Moueix discovered the Napanook Vineyard in 1981 and immediately saw the potential of this historic site. After decades of experience on the Right Bank of Bordeaux, including managing Pétrus, he began producing Dominus here in 1983. His philosophy revolves around precision, minimal intervention, and creating conditions in which every wine speaks primarily of its own origin; a vision that is being further developed today together with his son Edouard and the Dominus Estate team.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wijntransport","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43939033546831,"sku":"3900","price":89.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/9358\/0879\/files\/DominusNapanook.webp?v=1765537670","url":"https:\/\/perfectewijn.be\/en\/products\/napanook-napa-valley-2023","provider":"Perfecte Wijn","version":"1.0","type":"link"}