Dominus Proprietary Red 1985

In stock

October 2009

The level was great, the capsule was missing, the cork was so dry it nearly crumbed when I tried to ever-so-delicately "will it out" of its place. The label was partly taped on and had at one point clearly nearly fallen entirely off.

I got it, for a song, at an auction, and was 90% sure it was a fake or at least rendered entirely undrinkable... but once that cork finally and begrudgingly slid out from where it had stayed since its placement in the summer of 1986- it read: "DOMINUS".

BABY.

We let it stand for a bit, then gave it a gentle pour into the decanter- nose on it the read more...entire time. It wasn't long before the fruit began to break loose and just burst from the spout of that decanter.

A good bit of sediment had been caught up in the strainer in the funnel- a good sign, and a good amount of it clung to the side of the empty bottle. I gave the bottle a quick rinse and shook as much of the sediment out as I could as the wine was decanting, let it sit upside down in the utensil drying cup for about five minutes, then got things ready.

After a ten minute decant, on the dot, we gently poured the wine back through my (wicked and invaluable new Houdini) funnel and into the bottle, and we started to pour.

The wine began with a deep, rich, and garnet color and as we swirled the aromas of smoky cassis fruits, hints of tobacco, and even the occasional wisps of mint made themselves present.

The approach of the wine on the palate was luscious and beautifully rounded with powerful accents of roasted cherries, mixed berries and an over-abundance of red fruits that evolved (it seems) with each swirl and swig.

The tannins, which at one point must have been massive, had melted into the body of the wine in a naturally, almost sensual way, and added a robust yet silky physical element to what was the beginning of a very long, lingering, and powerful finish.

We paired the '85 Dominus with my wife's sensational grilled lambchops, lemon potatoes, several cheeses including a truffle-infused beauty that nearly sent me spiraling into euphoria and a host of Greek dips and pita.

94 points for the Dominus, if one is forced to put points with such an experience.

Moreover; everyone had a BLAST.    (hide)

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April 2009

Rating: 96/100 - As reviewed in Wine Advocate # 89 on Oct-93

Rating: 91/100 - As reviewed by The Wine Advocate in Issue 98

Rating: 91/100 - As reviewed in Wine Advocate # 98 on Apr-95

Rating: 85/100 - As reviewed by Wine Spectator