is to produce his wine in the vineyard, not the cellar. Terroir is a word that is slightly abused today. The precise definition is the combination of a given climate and a specific soil, and how the two interact. It is not the soil alone nor the climate by itself. The Napanook terroir is much more variable than one would expect. The ranch is 124 acres, of which 108 acres are planted, and we find three different types of soil—the gravelly part (specifically volcanic soil), the heavy clay and the loam. Our role is to find the rootstock and the grape varietal that will best adapt to the aspects of each block.

Respecting the terroir, Christian Moueix began his career in Pomerol, where merlot is the dominant varietal grown. At Dominus Estate, the essential grape varietal is cabernet sauvignon, the best suited for the Napanook vineyard terroir. Cabernet franc, merlot and petit verdot are also used in the final blends, reinforcing the consistent style of the wines although varying during the blend each year to reflect the climate during the growing season.

Our wines are made from grapes grown solely on the Napanook vineyard, allowing them to have a specific identity. They are "estate bottled" in the spirit of the Bordeaux chateaux. The ranch is dry-farmed, the ideal manner to allow the terroir to express itself.