Paso Robles

The Daou portfolio of wines boasts several world-class Bordeaux-styled blends made from Paso Robles fruit in California. With the Daou Estate in the Adelaida AVA, the wines are an accurate reflection of their terroir of Paso Robles, crafted with meticulous attention to detail and modern winemaking precision, making them premium expressions that can rival almost anything produced in the more famous Napa Valley and Sonoma County.

As pioneers in Paso Robles, Georges and Daniel Daou thrived in adversity, following a journey that led them to a rugged mountain in Paso Robles. Where others saw an impossible challenge, they saw potential, fuelled by their past and driven by an unrelenting pursuit of excellence, they transformed Daou Mountain into one of the finest wine estates in California. Soul of a Lion is their testament to the power of perseverance. Inspired by the vineyards of Bordeaux, they envisioned producing a wine that would rival the greatest in the world. A wine of power, elegance, and precision – a vision that is perfectly encapsulated with their Soul of a Lion cuvee made from fruit grown in the Adelaida AVA in Paso Robles, which is rich with limestone soils and tempered by cooling coastal breezes.

The 2022 is now their current release and I recently took this premium cuvee for a test drive.

Daou Vineyards Soul of a Lion Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Adelaida District, Paso Robles, 15.2% Abv.

This attractive new release from Daou Estate is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot that was aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Fabulously dense, full and intensely concentrated, the aromatics show intricate notes of violets, mulberries, ripe black currants, black cherry compote and subtle salty black liquorice nuances. In the mouth, the wine is incredibly plush, silky textured and fleshy, revealing a deliciously sweet fruited core with layers of black cherry liquor, aniseed, salted liquorice and black plum fruits with a gentle dusting of cocoa and vanilla pod spice. Unapologetically opulent and hedonistic in style, the wine retains a classical composure with power, balance and generosity. Drink now to 2035+.

(Wine Safari Score: 95/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

The greatest challenge any producer in today’s fine wine world can submit themselves to is a comparative tasting pitching their pride and joy against their primary piers. For those participating, it is an announcement of confidence and intent. That is exactly what the brothers George and Daniel Daou (pronounced Dao… like the Portuguese Region) did to pitch their impressive estate to the UK market.

Coming from the Lebanon, the first rockets from the civil war in the 1970s landed in front of their house, leading to the family deciding to flee to France and then to the USA. George and Daniel eventually started a business, Daou Systems, an intranet system for the US health care system and so created the financial means to realised their American dream.

They recently launched their wines in London to a discerning crowd of journalists and aficionados with full confidence, pitching their wines against the world’s very best! Here’s how their wines performed against the competition!

Cyril Henschke 2015, Eden Valley, 14.5% Abv.

Warm broody black fruited nose full of sweet tobacco, tannery leather and stewed black plums. Sleek and polished texture with bright glassy acids, intense concentration yet admirably light on its feet. An ambitious wine that succeeds through superb restraint and balance.

(Wine Safari Score: 94+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

Cullen Diana Madeline 2017, Margaret River, 13% Abv.

81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec. Cool dusty nose with blueberry and black berry fruits, hints of graphite and a slight leafy, sappy vegetal note. The palate is cool and sleek, ultra restrained and fine with gravel, graphite and wood spice nuances on the long finish.

(Wine Safari Score: 95/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

Leoville Lases Cases 2017, Saint Julien, 13.28% Abv.

79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc and 10% Merlot. Shows beautiful aromatics of blueberry, sweet cedar, aniseed root, cedar spice, hedgerow and a brambly undertone. Dense and compact, the textured layers are folded over one another with seamless transition and a long, dense core of rich, taut black fruit. Very classy, sophisticated showing great potential.

(Wine Safari Score: 96+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

Chateau Montrose 2017, St Estephe, 13.5% Abv.

76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Dense dark and broody, this is archetypal Montrose with taut layers of creamy black fruits, creme de cassis, black cherry and hoisin plum sauce. Incredible tannins, fabulous blueberry length and a fabulous supple freshness. Very classy but approachable now.

(Wine Safari Score: 95+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

Vina Sena 2017, Aconcagua, Chile

52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec, 15% Carmenere, 10% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot aged for 22 months in oak. Rich and lifted, this has a much more intense aromatic overt attack with opulent layers of cassis, salted black currant and an intense finish lined with kelp, blue berry and black cherry.

(Wine Safari Score: 94/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

Vina Chadwick 2017, Maipo, 13.5% Abv.

96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Deep savoury aromatics revealing forest floor, black currant, blueberry and graphite restraint. Cool and elegantly textured, this must have the most sophisticated palate balance in South America.

(Wine Safari Score: 95/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

Opus One 2016, Oakville, Napa Valley

77% Cabnernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 8% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec aged 18 months in French oak barriques.Sure dense dark and compact, it smells expensive and tastes expensive. Subtle hints of creamy blue and black berry fruits coat the palate and overwhelm the senses. Sublime acids, a subtle mint leaf lift and a long, creamy opulent finish. Serious effort.

(Wine Safari Score: 97/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

Daou Soul of a Lion 2017, Paso Robles, Adelaida District, 15% Abv.

Rich dark broody expression with plenty of opulent rich Cabernet fruit characters with notes of sweet black currant, blueberry, vanilla pod spice and a plush long length showing hints of molasses, blackberry compote and an exotic caramelised fig complexity. Multi-layered and textural, this is a serious Californian offering.

(Wine Safari Score: 95/100 Greg Sherwood MW)