The Tasting Panel magazine

44 / the tasting panel / september 2009 Intro-Vinous A s President of Establissements Jean- Pierre Moueix, Christian Moueix com- mands a comprehensive view of the world of Bordeaux varietals. From his youth in the tiny town of Libourne in Bordeaux, to his days as an agricultural engineering student in Paris, to his graduate studies in viticulture and enology at UC Davis in 1968- 1969, Christian has never been shy about moving the needle when it comes to produc- ing world-class wines. Recently, I caught up with him and spent a day in the vineyards and cellars at Dominus Estate in Yountville, Napa Valley. Speaking extemporaneously, Moueix emphasized how important it was to spend as much time in the vineyards as possible and how critical it was to produce well-balanced vines. Prior to our 10:30 a.m. meeting, Christian had already spent laborious hours in the fields, overseeing the vines. Among his credos is his insistence on picking the rows one side at a time (i.e., the sunny side first, followed by the shady). While this type of harvesting may look strange, the logic seems perfect. In the cellar, we tasted the proprietary 2006 Dominus Estate, which appears to be one of the winery's finest efforts to date. The wine has incredible depth and struc- ture. Christian Moueix began his career in Pomerol, where Merlot is the dominant vari- ety grown. At Dominus Estate, the essential grape is Cabernet Sauvignon, expressing the unique terroir found at the historic Napanook Vineyard. The wine should age well for 20+ years; I gave it 99 points. On the French side, we tasted the 2006 Château Hosanna, a superb Pomerol with excellent richness and elegance (91 points). Christian Moueix is a remarkable producer because he has taken his cumulative educa- tion from wherever he could—not just from Bordeaux or Davis—to improve his wines. As an impassioned vineyardist, a skilled enolo- gist, a talented taster, he possesses the ele- ments to produce world-class wines. Over the last 40 years, he has become one of the most respected vintners in Napa Valley. Christian Moueix and Wilfred Wong evaluating the 2006 Dominus. A pair of winners: the incredible 2006 Domi- nus and the excellent 2006 Napanook. Wilfred Wong spends the day with Christian Moueix at the world-class Dominus Estate Moueix Marks the Spot

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