Christian Moueix
Ulysses Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Napa Valley, California, USA
94 that’s drifting towards 95. Hour decant.
Christian Moueix’s Oakvile property that sits to the north of Dominus and located on the Oakville Bench. There are some that believe there is a bench & others who don’t. I guess it comes down to education & experience that determines one’s opinion.
First time having the Ulysses and is different than the single digit 2000’s of Dominus I’ve had. More a bit of Cabernet candy. Less herbal, gobs of melted dark chocolate to chocolate cake, dark currants & cassis.
The nose shows; dark, ruby, ripe, dark currants/cassis, black raspberry, blackberries, black cherries, black plum skin, plum, baked strawberries & hints of hovering raspberries. Melted dark chocolate bar to cake, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanillin, some fresh tobacco, steeped black tea, mid berry cola, moist clays, very light, fresh herbs, understated dark spice, whiffs of graphite, dry river stone, dry brush, slightly withering; dark, red, blue & purple flowers.
The palate has M+ rounded, velvety tannins. It’s ripe, rich & lush; dark currants/cassis, black raspberry, blackberries, black cherries, black plum skin, plum, baked strawberries & hints of hovering raspberries. Melted dark chocolate bar to cake, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanillin, cocoa powder, caramel, some fresh tobacco w/ ash, sandalwood to cedar, mid used leather notes, steeped black tea, mid berry cola, anise to black licorice, dark spice with some palate heat, moist clays, very light, fresh herbs, understated dark spice, more pronounced graphite, dry top soils, dry crushed limestone, volcanics, dry river stone, dry brush, slightly withering; dark, red, blue & purple flowers-violets, excellent, round city with an elegant, lush, balanced, well kitted & tensioned, polished finish that lasts 90 seconds landing on fruit with softened earthiness.
Roughly 9 yrs in bottle & is just starting to reveal nice integration & evolution. Still acceding & has 15 plus yrs of life ahead of it, properly stored of course.
Paired w/ a Wagyu Ribcap.
I’ve been fortunate to sit next to Christian Moueix at dinner twice and he is authentic/genuine & humble as it gets.
Photos of; Ulysses winery, Christian Moueix, Cabernet fruit and their estate vineyard.
94 that’s drifting towards 95. Hour decant.
Christian Moueix’s Oakvile property that sits to the north of Dominus and located on the Oakville Bench. There are some that believe there is a bench & others who don’t. I guess it comes down to education & experience that determines one’s opinion.
First time having the Ulysses and is different than the single digit 2000’s of Dominus I’ve had. More a bit of Cabernet candy. Less herbal, gobs of melted dark chocolate to chocolate cake, dark currants & cassis.
The nose shows; dark, ruby, ripe, dark currants/cassis, black raspberry, blackberries, black cherries, black plum skin, plum, baked strawberries & hints of hovering raspberries. Melted dark chocolate bar to cake, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanillin, some fresh tobacco, steeped black tea, mid berry cola, moist clays, very light, fresh herbs, understated dark spice, whiffs of graphite, dry river stone, dry brush, slightly withering; dark, red, blue & purple flowers.
The palate has M+ rounded, velvety tannins. It’s ripe, rich & lush; dark currants/cassis, black raspberry, blackberries, black cherries, black plum skin, plum, baked strawberries & hints of hovering raspberries. Melted dark chocolate bar to cake, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanillin, cocoa powder, caramel, some fresh tobacco w/ ash, sandalwood to cedar, mid used leather notes, steeped black tea, mid berry cola, anise to black licorice, dark spice with some palate heat, moist clays, very light, fresh herbs, understated dark spice, more pronounced graphite, dry top soils, dry crushed limestone, volcanics, dry river stone, dry brush, slightly withering; dark, red, blue & purple flowers-violets, excellent, round city with an elegant, lush, balanced, well kitted & tensioned, polished finish that lasts 90 seconds landing on fruit with softened earthiness.
Roughly 9 yrs in bottle & is just starting to reveal nice integration & evolution. Still acceding & has 15 plus yrs of life ahead of it, properly stored of course.
Paired w/ a Wagyu Ribcap.
I’ve been fortunate to sit next to Christian Moueix at dinner twice and he is authentic/genuine & humble as it gets.
Photos of; Ulysses winery, Christian Moueix, Cabernet fruit and their estate vineyard.
Excellent. Notes of espresso combine with caramel on the palate. Great tannic structure. Hold.
Excellent. Notes of espresso combine with caramel on the palate. Great tannic structure. Hold.
Nov 9th, 2020
Showing much better than the 2013, this was inviting and perfumed. Still needs time in the cellar, but refined and class all the way.
Showing much better than the 2013, this was inviting and perfumed. Still needs time in the cellar, but refined and class all the way.
Jun 14th, 2018
Love it and all smiles - a cross of what Mayacamas wine would be when made in the Bordeaux style from st Julien specifically leoville style - please decant three hours or rest a little more in the bottle - promise it will last 30 years - deep purple in color actually a beautiful rich purple - dark fruits galore - Christian Moeiux is a genius - sweet cedar wood, unsmoked cigar tobacco, crème de cassis, and black raspberries - full-bodied powerful complex mouthfeel is incredible - maybe this could become a new Dominus
900 cases produced - I think suckling is a little high with his score of 98 but hits many of the marks - I would try this wine compared to a dominus and I bet you will see what I am talking about - Bevan’s napa Bordeaux’s are more approachable upfront and the consistent scores he gets reflects this but given time this should be a wine that will compete and a wine to try - bravo CM - thank you for challenging yourself
Love it and all smiles - a cross of what Mayacamas wine would be when made in the Bordeaux style from st Julien specifically leoville style - please decant three hours or rest a little more in the bottle - promise it will last 30 years - deep purple in color actually a beautiful rich purple - dark fruits galore - Christian Moeiux is a genius - sweet cedar wood, unsmoked cigar tobacco, crème de cassis, and black raspberries - full-bodied powerful complex mouthfeel is incredible - maybe this could become a new Dominus
900 cases produced - I think suckling is a little high with his score of 98 but hits many of the marks - I would try this wine compared to a dominus and I bet you will see what I am talking about - Bevan’s napa Bordeaux’s are more approachable upfront and the consistent scores he gets reflects this but given time this should be a wine that will compete and a wine to try - bravo CM - thank you for challenging yourself
Age has been good to this wine, making a good go to selection, especially if pairing with steak. On the palate the wine is well integrated with an elegant mouth feel.
Age has been good to this wine, making a good go to selection, especially if pairing with steak. On the palate the wine is well integrated with an elegant mouth feel.
Jan 25th, 2025
Great blend. A little oakey, a little sweet, very balanced
Great blend. A little oakey, a little sweet, very balanced
Oct 12th, 2024
2014 is fantastic. "Clean". Let the french oak and the fruit do the talking. Light tannin. Only going to get better
2014 is fantastic. "Clean". Let the french oak and the fruit do the talking. Light tannin. Only going to get better
Jun 3rd, 2022
