The 2008 Dominus (4,200 cases from a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) reveals an explosive nose of red and black fruits intermixed with notes of truffles, earth, soil, forest floor, and licorice. This lush, flamboyant, opulent effort is an anomaly for this Napa vintage. It shows outstanding density, richness, a savory flavor profile, and an enduring texture. This full-bodied beauty should drink well young, and evolve for 20 years. This estate, owned by Christian Moueix, includes the famed Napanook Vineyard that was the base of so many of the historic Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignons of the 1950s and 1960s. Interestingly, they have completely eliminated Merlot from the bottling. There are 4,200 cases of the 2008 Dominus which is composed of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Lower yields resulted in a denser, more concentrated wine. The remarkable thing about these cuvees is that they smell like a hypothetical blend of a top Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and a serious Bordeaux, possibly a cross blend of a Pomerol and Pauillac. Both wines possess silky sweet tannins, which is the big difference between Dominus post-1990 and the first seven vintages, where the tannin content was relatively high. About 40% new oak is used in their upbringing.