Jane Anson: 94 Punkte
"Carefully woven tannic architecture, supple with enough support that it will clearly age, suggesting that you just might miss out on something wonderful if you drink too early. Combines intensity with uplift, always a neat trick, unrolling with cassis and black olive upfront, then softly spoken lilac and violet flowers, and plenty of graphite and crayon. 20% new oak for ageing, Tod Mostero winemaker." (02/2026)
Decanter: 96 Punkte
"The 2023 Napanook is sourced from parcels directly behind the Dominus Estate winery and, in this vintage, is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot. Utterly suave and polished, this is perhaps one of the most open-knit and accessible expressions of Napanook I have tasted to date. The wine is absolutely riveting on the palate. I tasted it after it had been decanted and open for around three hours, and at this youthful stage, it clearly benefits from that time. If you open this sometime after 2028, that patience will be unnecessary. Pure blackberry and blackcurrant fruit resonate on the mid-palate, lifted by a perfumed rose petal, violet, and sagebrush notes. Refined layers of darker berry fruit follow, framed by ultra-fine, powdery tannins. The long, earth-driven finish is fuelled by wet stone and graphite." (03/2026)
