The Winemaker

Chad Alexander

Winemaker Chad Alexander’s winemaking vision is of extreme focus on every detail-from the proper soil, to his proprietary planting structure that creates “total vine balance”.His exacting, almost extreme, winemaking philosophy allows the grapes to be in the perfect condition to create wines that continue to rival the best in the world.

Growing Season

With climate variability as the new normal, Napa & Sonoma grape growers aim to be resilient and adaptable. Their preparation and experience paid off in 2022 as growers faced triple-digit heat over five days in September quickly followed by rain that brought the harvest to a sudden halt. The rains provided a much-needed break. Following the rain, grapes left to hang through October enjoyed mild weather days that allowed for perfect ripeness.

Winemaking

Dolum Estates was born to create premium California red wines. Each unique and elegant - classic and unmistakable. All the fruit for Dolum Estates wine is taken from small sub-districts throughout select areas of the Napa Valley and Sonoma County. This meticulous selection process produces exceptional fruit that is surrounded by some of the areas most renowned producers.

Tasting Notes

2022 Dolum California Cabernet Sauvignon offers a rich, inviting bouquet of black cherry, cedar, and a hint of oak, setting the stage for a deep, immersive experience. The palate is full-bodied and robust, with black cherry flavors that are ripe and sweet, balanced by cedar notes that add a touch of bitterness and astringency.

Its structure is solid, with well-integrated tannins that provide a sense of firmness and longevity. The finish is long and satisfying, with lingering notes of dark berries and spice, offering a gentle tug that is both invigorating and comforting.

$42 | Buy Now

Growing Season

The 2021 vintage will be remembered for low yields with intensely flavored, small-sized berries and a smooth and uneventful harvest season. The season started off with very little rain, leading to the 2nd year of drought conditions in Napa Valley, Harvest began early with white wine grapes picked on July 30th and red wine grapes beginning on August 31.

Winemaking

While concerning in the long term, the drought of 2021 resulted in a more natural load on the vines, requiring less pruning and dropping of fruit. The resulting grapes are packed full of flavor. We are excited about the prospects of this vintage and it is likely the smaller yields per vine and smaller berry size will result in another amazing vintage.

Tasting Notes

2021 Dolum Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon opens with an inviting bouquet of ripe blackberries, cassis, and dark cherries, complemented by subtle hints of cedar, vanilla, and a touch of graphite.

On the palate, it delivers a rich and opulent experience, with layers of flavors unfolding seamlessly. Dark fruit flavors dominate, with notes of blackcurrant, plum, and black cherry, supported by well-integrated oak and supple tannins that provide structure and depth.The wine exhibits a lush, full-bodied texture, with a velvety mouthfeel and a lingering finish that showcases hints of dark chocolate and espresso.A medium to full-bodied red with aromas of dark plums, dark cherries, currants and sweet spices on the nose. Fine tannins with a velvety core of berries and spices on the creamy mid-palate. Lively and harmonious with a focused finish. - James Suckling

$100 | Buy Now

Tasting Notes

2021 Dolum Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon offers a fragrant bouquet with aromas of ripe wild berries, plums, and hints of earthy herbs mixed with subtle mineral notes.

Medium-bodied and gracefully textured, it wraps the palate in finely woven tannins, providing a structure that is both refined and approachable. Balanced and vibrant, a harmonious interplay of flavors, leads to a composed and enduring finish that lingers with vitality.Perfumed nose with aromas of wild currants, plums, mulberries, wet stones and thyme. It’s medium-bodied with finely grained tannins. Fine and textural with great balance and energy and a composed, long and lively finish. - James Suckling

$140 | Buy Now

Tasting Notes

2021 Dolum Cask#28 Cabernet Sauvignon gives forth a captivating array of aromas that immediately intrigue the senses.

Rich blackberry and dark cherry notes intertwine with hints of cassis, dried herbs, and a touch of cocoa powder, creating a complex and inviting bouquet. This medium to full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon nature, envelops the palate with layers of luscious fruit flavors, including ripe plum and blackcurrant, complemented by nuances of cedar and baking spices.Refined nose with wild berries, currants, dried herbs, pencil lead and some tar. Medium to full body with finely grained tannins. Poised with a delicate texture at the center. Juicy blue and dark berries with a flavorful, vivid finish full of spices and herbs. - James Suckling

$120 | Buy Now

Tasting Notes

2021 Dolum Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon displays aromas of ripe blackberry and dark plum, with hints of dried herbs, tobacco, and a touch of vanilla, it presents a complex and inviting bouquet.

Layers of rich fruit flavors, including black cherry and currant, accented by subtle notes of cedar and baking spices. Structured yet silky tannins provide a firm backbone, while well-integrated acidity imparts balance and vibrancy. The finish is lingering and satisfying, demonstrating depth and complexity with lingering hints of dark fruit and a touch of espresso.Aromas of ripe dark berries, sweet tobacco, roasted spices and bark. Full-bodied with velvety, fine-grained tannins and polished texture. Notes of black coffee, walnut and dried leaves to close. Lingering and slightly chewy finish. - James Suckling

$130 | Buy Now

Tasting Notes

2020 Dolum Sonoma County has a lush and velvety texture, with layers of rich fruit flavors unfolding seamlessly.

Dark berry compote, cassis, and a touch of dark chocolate dance on the palate, complemented by well-integrated oak and refined tannins that provide structure and depth. Balanced acidity adds vibrancy and freshness, leading to a satisfyingly long finish that leaves a lingering impression of dark fruit and spice.

$82 | Buy Now

Growing Season

The 2020 season will be remembered for factors beyond the normal measurements. In Napa Valley, it was a warm, dry winter and we didn't start to see rain and cold weather until the end of March. While the mild spring season gave us a great early start, our winery worked under extensive safety protocols due to the COVID pandemic. The harvest proved to be one of the most challenging in history, our winemakers remain not only optimistic but committed to bottling wines of the highest quality.

Winemaking

Summer brought very cool mornings and very warm days. This build-up to harvest was interrupted by two wildfires as we turned to the fall. The red wine harvest was a bit smaller than usual, but we were able to move forward with red wine vinification.The story of this vintage will continue to unfold over the years to come.

Tasting Notes

2020 Dolum Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is rich, inky and wonderfully deep, that packs a serious punch. A blast of inky dark fruit, chocolate, spice, and licorice adds juiciness.

A polished and inviting Cabernet that exhibits warm cassis and gently muddled plum fruit flavors drifting through mocha, toasted vanilla and mushroom, while a soft savory gives legnth to the finish.Blackcurrant with dark cocoa and coffee attribute adds to its complexion. Full-bodied, yet the tannins are luscious and ethereal, presenting a velvety texture at the end.Aromas of ripe dark berries, sweet tobacco, roasted spices and bark. Full-bodied with velvety, fine-grained tannins and polished texture. Notes of black coffee, walnut and dried leaves to close. Lingering and slightly chewy finish. - James Suckling

$100 | Buy Now

Tasting Notes

2020 Dolum Oakville Cask 3 is bold and beautiful, demonstrating aromas of dark cherries, plum, spices and cigar box.

The rich and concentrated flavors of wild blackberry, cassis and fresh herbs are in perfect tranquility with the prosperous, velvety texture and beautifully integrated tannins. Radiant acidity and well-defined structure combine with lush suppleness that contributes to the refined silky finish.Attractive aromas of blackcurrants and brambleberries with toasted cedar, anisette, cinnamon and tobacco leaf. Ripe and mellow on the palate with a full body and an array of plush, finely polished tannins. Complex and refined with a succulent, bittersweet, dark-fruited finish. - James Suckling

$140 | Buy Now

Tasting Notes

2020 Dolum SLD Cask 28 Cabernet Sauvignon is lush and fleshy, with cassis, boysenberry and blackberry notes guided by hints of alder and mesquite.

Stays open but defined through the finish, with a buried hint of sweet tobacco. A rich, layered beast, this has a nose rife with currants, blackberries, vanilla and light toast with flavors of mocha, plum, and Bing cherry that mingle harmoniously on the tongue.Notes of dark spices, crushed walnuts, black olives and coffee with a rich dark-fruited backbone. Medium- to full-bodied with sleek, polished texture and silky tannins. Notes of mellow blackberries and currants with some earthiness to it. - James Suckling

$120 | Buy Now

Tasting Notes

2020 Dolum Sonoma County This dark-hued Cabernet Sauvignon is rich and shows sumptuous black cherry and blackberry fruit that intermingles with lush milk chocolate to create a smooth, silky cab that has uncanny elegance and finesse.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon
92% Alexander Valley - 8% Oakville Napa Valley Vineyards, SJ Ranch

$82 | Buy Now

Growing Season

The beginning of the 2019 growing season was defined by copious rainfall and late soil moisture. The long, warm summer saw very few extreme heat events, with foggy mornings setting the stage for vibrant and expressive wines. The long, relatively mild finish to the season, not without its moments of unpredictability, helped to preserve freshness and finesse in the fruit with abundant hang time teasing out great color, structure and soft tannins.

Winemaking

A long, warm summer and mild finish to the season produced exceptional fruit with bright acidity and ample texture promises an amazing vintage. These grapes were harvested, de-stemmed into open-top fermenters and fermented warm with hand pump-overs twice a day for 6-8 days on skins prior to pressing. After pressing off skins the wines were filled to a mix of 30% new French oak. The wines completed primary fermentation and underwent natural malolactic fermentation in barrel, maturing in barrel for sixteen months prior to bottling.

Tasting Notes

2019 Dolum Oakville Cask 3 vintage shows the quintessential Oakville cabernet notes of cassis, wet earth and black cherry.

An intense, dense and long palate shows the lift and brightness that Oakville brings to cabernet. There is bittersweet chocolate, spearmint, tobacco as the wine tails off to a long and silky finish. Luscious, rich and lavish, this wine shows attributes of toasted spice, wisps of black pepper and cocoa. Provocative firm, chewy tannins with rich black cherry, espresso and a pleasing finish.

$120 | Sold Out

Tasting Notes

2019 Dolum SLD Cask 28 Cabernet Sauvignon bursts from the glass with aromas of clean, black fruit such as crushed blackberry and a hint of tea leaf.

Sumptuous black cherry and blackberry fruit intermingle with bitter chocolate with a hint of sage to create a smooth, silky red that boasts elegance and finesse. A rich dark-hued red in the glass, this full-bodied Cabernet drinks like velvet with a lengthy, provocative finish.Hints of sage and bay accent black cherries and red currants on the nose, while the palate is medium to full-bodied, silky and fine, with a lingering, seductive finish. - The Wine Advocate

$120 | Sold Out

Tasting Notes

2019 Rutherford Cask 14 vintage shows impressive depth, richness and refinement on the palate.

Generous black fruit flavors are accented by hints of dried herb, mocha and that famous Rutherford dustiness against a backdrop of plush tannins. The mouthfeel is rich and dense with blackberry liqueur, full-bodied opulence, stunning purity. Complex yet approachable with the depth and concentration to age beautifully for many years to come.Aromas of blackcurrant, tobacco leaf and eucalyptus. Full-bodied with taught tannins. Sweet paprika and red and black berries mix on the palate. A pleasant blend of fresh and savory. Layered and bright.- James Suckling

$120 | Buy Now

Tasting Notes

2019 Dolum Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has expressive aromas displaying roast plum, dark rose florals, chocolate, dark fruit, cinnamon and some sweet toasty oak.

Intensity is first and foremost. It unfurls in the glass, revealing dark plum and black truffle scents infused with warm summer berries. Perfectly uniform acidity, wholly refined tannins, with silken texture, all in a sense of tranquility.Aromas of crushed blackberry, plum, blackcurrant and menthol. Full-bodied with powdery tannins. Succulent and fruity on the palate with a core of black fruit and berries. - James Suckling

$100 | Buy Now

Tasting Notes

2019 Dolum Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon has a red dark color with bright red reflection filling the glass as dark and red fruits sing across the nose giving way to dark cherry and blackberry sensations on the palate with a vivid and a solid tannic structure underlining a chewy, yet silky finish.

Juicy, sumptuous, and silky, with blackberry preserves and round, supple tannins. So approachable, with a gliding, deep dive into tilled soil, espresso, and black beans beneath its soulful core. - The Tasting Panel100% Cabernet Sauvignon
95% Alexander Valley - 5% Oakville Napa Valley Vineyards, SJ Ranch

$82 | Buy Now

Growing Season

The 2018 vintage was one of great reprieve after 2017 and belongs in an echelon with the finest of the past two decades. It was absent of challenges that plagued many of the previous years, ranging from drought, low yields and heatwaves. When compared to recent vintages, it is most synonymous with the highly acclaimed 2016. ‘There were a lot of synergies in both the growing season and the wines. They have a lot of the same energy, expression and life.

Winemaking

Steady, warm temperatures made for a cool, unhurried harvest, and our healthy leaf canopies, allowed the fruit to hang longer and ripen very slowly on the vine. Harvest wrapped the first week of November with our Cabernet Sauvignon in the Stags Leap District. The extended time on the vine and the temperate weather gave a fantastic concentration of ripe flavor and density to the grapes along with high acidity in the wines, resulting in a vintage with natural balance and finesse.

Tasting Notes

2018 Dolum Sonoma Mountain Cask #11 red is the first vintage release of the Cask #11 red. It's a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc with 91% sourced from Sonoma Mountain and 9% Oakville. It's opulent, plush and extracted. Complex, yet held together with poise.

Determined and driven with insistent tannins. Plum, lavender, and espresso are enveloped in a dusty coating for a chewy, dry finish. - The Tasting Panel

Waves of succulent blackberry, blackcurrant, and rich black cherry cascade with a luxurious intensity, leaving an impression that is both bold and indulgent. Caramel notes add a delightful layer of sweetness and an unexpected touch of blueberries emerges, adding a delightful twist to the intricate symphony of tastes.

$82 | Buy Now

Tasting Notes

2018 Dolum Oakville Cask 3 is dark purple-black in color.

Aromas of black cherry, pipe tobacco and star anise with a whiff of new leather shaping the aromatics of this deeply fragrant Cabernet Sauvignon.

The intense, structured palate doles out black plum compote, classic Oakville graphite, crushed mint and a whiff of barrel toast. It's impeccably balanced, with firm, fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. The Oakville region adds to the dynamic and alluring appeal.

$120 | Sold Out