Ulysses

In 2008, Christian Moueix who also owns Dominus Estate, purchased the Schmidt Ranch, which sits between Missouri Hopper and Vine Hill Ranch, two of the most renowned Cabernet vineyards in all Napa. It is almost infathomable that anyone could find land for sale in this area of southern Oakville.  The wines are currently made at Dominus by their maestro Ted Mostero.

“While the property is much smaller (40 acres vs. the very large Napanook vineyard), a similar élevage is employed, with 40% to 50% new French oak, and bottling after the wine spends 20 months in wood. Moueix told me that the site, even though it is so close to Napanook, is warmer in the summer by several degrees and colder in the winter, additionally, the soils are deeper. What Moueix has done is produce a wine that is in complete contrast to Dominus. The wines of Dominus are known for their silky complexity, and even though there is virtually no Merlot in any of the top vintages, they always have an almost Pomerol-like lushness and opulence. Ulysses, on the other hand, is a Napa version of a first or second growth Pauillac. The crème de cassis, the licorice, the purity and the graphite notes are present in all three of these vintages, just in varying degrees.”
– Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, December 2015