Dominus Estate

Dominus Estate was founded in 1982 by Christian Moueix, who bought the historic Napanook vineyard outright in 1995. The estate reports about 124 acres in production, dry-farmed, and makes Dominus and Napanook (the second wine) — trade reporting puts Dominus at around 6,000–8,000 cases.

Founded: 1982
Region: Napa Valley
Ownership: Christian Moueix
Vineyard: 50.0 ha124 ac

Wines

Dominus Estate, DominusYountville AVA proprietary red · Yountville

Dominus Estate, Dominus, vintage by vintage

One square for each year. The darker the square, the better the weather was for the grapes. Tap a year to read about it.

2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994

ExceptionalExcellentVery goodGoodMixedDifficult

The essentials

Economic profile

Dominus applies Right Bank economics — dry farming, a single estate vineyard, no mailing-list cult — to Napa: a mid-volume wine with a Bordeaux owner's distribution, priced between Opus One and the cult estates. The Herzog & de Meuron winery (1997) is one of Napa's landmark buildings.

The detailsClassification, ownership, land and output

Founded

1982

Classification

Yountville AVA

Ownership

Christian Moueix (family)

Vineyard holdings

50.0 ha (124 ac)≈ 124 acres in production, per the estate

First vintage made

1983

Website

dominusestate.com/

Farming

Dry-farmedDominus Estate

Second wine

Napanook

We estimate it costs about $26 to $80 to make one bottle at an estate like this. See the full breakdown

Land-value contextWhat a hectare of vineyard sells for around here

Input	Low	High	Unit	Source
Vineyard land, prime Napa Valley (Oakville, Rutherford, St Helena benchland)2025	300,000	500,000	USD/acre	Trade press and broker reports
Vineyard land, prime Napa Valley, per hectare2025	741,000	1,236,000	USD/ha	Corkonomics estimate from the inputs o…
Vineyard land, secondary Napa Valley sites2025	120,000	340,000	USD/acre	Trade press and broker reports

Every wine in a tableBottles made, years covered and how hard each is to find

Wine	Bottles made in a typical year	Vintages covered	Great years	How rare (0–100)
Dominus Estate, DominusYountville AVA proprietary red · Yountville	84,000	34 1990–2023	13	51

Every year in a tableDominus Estate, Dominus: How each year was rated, and the price the producer first asked

Vintage	How the year was rated	Release price	How rare (0–100)	The growing season
2023	Very Good	—	45
2022	Mixed	—	46
2021	Excellent	—	46
2020	Difficult	—	46	The Glass and LNU fires; smoke taint led several cult estates to release no wine from the…
2019	Excellent	—	47
2018	Excellent	—	47
2017	Mixed	—	48	Heat spike at harvest and the October fires; several estates released reduced quantities.
2016	Excellent	—	48
2015	Very Good	—	49
2014	Excellent	—	49
2013	Exceptional	—	50	Long, even season; widely rated among Napa's best.
2012	Excellent	—	50
2011	Difficult	—	50	Cool, wet, late; rot at harvest; many estates made little or declassified.
2010	Good	—	51
2009	Very Good	—	51
2008	Good	—	51
2007	Excellent	—	51
2006	Very Good	—	52
2005	Very Good	—	52
2004	Very Good	—	52
2003	Good	—	52
2002	Excellent	—	52
2001	Excellent	—	53
2000	Good	—	53
1999	Very Good	—	53
1998	Mixed	—	53
1997	Excellent	—	54
1996	Very Good	—	54
1995	Very Good	—	54
1994	Excellent	—	54
1993	Good	—	54
1992	Very Good	—	55
1991	Excellent	—	55
1990	Very Good	—	55