8/5/2018 - dson wrote:

Opened my last bottle about 18 months ago (Sadly...I only have one bottle left). This has morphed and changed again.....in the morning when I Coravaned a sip...you could smell the aroma as the liquid gold slid into the glass. The finish on this is CRAZY ..really crazy. Popped, decanted about 5 minutes and poured. The nose...the nose! YOu can just sit and sniff all night long..... Smooth and silky, but then on the back palate all these different flavors start popping...black fruit...leather...little smoke...plum, blackberry, dark bing cherry....just amazing. I really get the 100 point Parker score on this...my last bottle will be held for another 3 years....then we will thoroughly enjoy....

1/16/2017 - dson Likes this wine:

Opened my last 2007 JB 3-1/2 years ago. At that time it had become more subtle and smooth.....so I was really interested to see how it compared this time. WOW! This was a mind blower! Can you give something a 100+ rating? It was like it woke up, grew up....with a nose that was fragrant made you salivate right off the bat. Smooth tannings but very dominant flavors...tobacco and licorice and lots of deep dark red fruits and leather. The flavors kept evolving in the mouth and changed depending on what you were eating. No hotness and no bite....but certainly "there!"! NOW I can see why this is a 100 point wine..and how do reviewers like Parker know to visualize how a wine will be a decade later? All I can say is: Two more bottles to go.....can't wait to revisit this in 5 and 10 years...and then say goodbye to a most elegant, amazing wine.

8/17/2014 - dson Likes this wine:

This is such a non Merlot Merlot! Had I not known it was a Merlot...I would have guessed Cab Sauv...but it just didn't fit. Intriguing....cocoa and berries....smooth and subtle...but with a nice firm texture and mouthfeel. Not flimsy as (in my opinion) most 100% Merlots are. Started out just sipping before any food arrived....Went well with an ahi stack and coconut crusted shrimp.....didn't have any left for the main course....switched to a Syrah then. This is a very interesting and complicated wine....as Russel is known for. In a word: Amazing

3/12/2014 - dson wrote:

WOW. When first tasted, this was kind of tight and a little harsh. It didn't seem to come together. I decanted an hour and then poured a glass. Oh my. WHAT a difference....and it only got better and better. Seemed very cabernet "ish" on the nose. But on the pallet the syrah and grenache definitely came through. I think it's the first time I have had any Tannant. Long long finish that just kept changing and tantalized. Had with a black bean marinated chicken....and the flavors kept on coming. After the hour decant the nose opened up, the harshness was gone. This was a beautiful tapestry of flavors and smells. I'd recommend a two to three hour decant. In a word or three: Scott Hawley has done it yet again! YUMMY!

9/19/2013 - dson Likes this wine:

Opened before taking it to dinner to see if it needed to sit awhile and decant. OMG--not at all! Can't wait for dinner. This isn't your "typical" Paso big, bold, fireworks, jammy Syrah. This is "The Lady In Red". Subtle, seductive,smart and ohhhh...Sooo..SEXY! A wonderful nose...and beautiful legs. Dark berries, cocoa, licorice, leather and blackberry dominate. Nicely layered. The finish is incredible...just doesn't stop. 15.8% alcohol but you would never know it. Ready to go right after the cork pop...and I don't know how I'll wait another 90 minutes till we get to the restaurant. This '08 Syrah is in a word: Daoulicious!~

8/4/2013 - dson Likes this wine:

Opened my first bottle of the '07 James Berry about two years ago. Then..it was a HUGE wine. Hitchya in the face and mouth. Was John Phillip Sousa in the mouth...with incredible 4th of July fireworks and the 1812 overture. SO...Imagine our amazement (2 of the people the other night tasted the first bottle)... when we opened bottle #2 (yes..a special occasion) two years later. We all commented! Still..an amazing bottle of wine..but WOW! Did it grow up, mature, become sexy, subtle and seductive. Gone were the fireworks...replaced by a silky, sexy seductress......with a finish that went on and on......and on again. Great sour cherry initially with plum, red berries..hints of herbs...layered...no perceptible alcohol. This was AMAZING! The comparison between "then" and now.....was a treat. Can't wait (but will) to open another bottle in 2 or 3 years..see how this has evolved.
Opened the bottle early afternoon to taste, then re-corked (at the suggestion of Justin Smith). Then, decanted for about 30 minutes at the restaurant. WOW.....YUMMY.....and as I said..soooooooo sexy.
The wine looks Garnet colored. The legs are Slow. This will tantalize and tease the senses all night long.......good way beyond the very last drop.

3/18/2013 - dson wrote:

Daou's 2011 Zin has the makings of being phenominal. Just recently bottled, I gave this a 6 hour decant. Tasting it upon opening, then midway through and finally....fully decanted. Upon first opening it displayed a roughness with intense tannins, to be expected. 6 hours later:
A wonderful, aromatic nose....fruity with fragrance of rose petals and cherry, tantalizing. Sipping, prominent intertwining flavors of sour cherry, plum, tobacco, leather and spice. Totally smoothed out, an elegant and seductive wine. Tannins need some more time to mellow out, but for a wine just bottled a few weeks ago....you can see what this will develop into. Food brings out the elegance and flavors of this wine. A very long, lingering, layered finish. Lower in alcohol that what I am used to in a Zin----a great food friendly, enticing wine. Just be certain if you open it initially, to give it plenty of decant time. Can't wait to re-taste a year or so, once it's had time to lay in the bottle, come together. If a 6 hour decant made this wine evolve so incredibly, I can imagine what a year or so will do for it. A wonderful wine with personality. I loved the 2010....the 2011 knocks it out of the park.

3/14/2013 - dson wrote:

Daou's 2011, 1740! Tasted on March 13, 2012 (13/13/13..must be an auspicious day). This years blend is 70% Cabernet Franc and 30% Merlot, as opposed to last years which had slightly less Cab Franc and more Merlot. Wonderful aromatic nose....slightly astringent but that disappears after a few minutes. This is a beautiful, dark wine. Jammy with lots of interwoven scents and flavors. Definite black cherry, dark plum and raspberry, somewhat peppery with some smokiness and leather. Intense flavors. A LONG...lingering finish. RE-TASTED the following day, and the flavors had smoothed out nicely. The tannins need time to level out. A MUCH more intense, fully flavored and interesting wine than the 2010...which (IMO) was GREAT. I rated this a 93 ONLY because this was just bottled and is obviously suffering from some bottle shock. Needs some months in the bottle. Will re-taste in several months and fully expect it to exceed last years ratings. Judging from the characteristic change in 24 hours....give this bottle 6 months and it's a WOWZER! This is just a CRAZY great, complex, tasty, chewy, jammy wine. IF you open a bottle now...I'd suggest a several hour decant. Another Daoucredible release.

9/3/2012 - dson wrote:

Competitively Blind tasted on August 4, 2012 by a group of 14, at the winery, against 7 Napa Cabernets (which included Relic, Beringer, Paul Hobbs, Passenger, Schrader, Honig and Caymus--(2009 and 2010 vintages). Combined notes: Elegant nose, aromatic, milk chocolate, blackberry, and blueberry aromas are pervasive. Elegant and smooth, layered flavors evolve presenting a tapestry of flavors. Full mouth feel. Subtly evolves on the pallet, silky and rich without excessive tannins. Very well balanced. Vanilla and toast on the exceptionally long finish. This is a sexy, seductive wine that teases the senses with a long finish that leaves you wanting more. Being recently bottled, this wine will only show better several months from now. Of the other 7 Napa wines tasted the group rated the top 3 as follows: (On a total 10 point scale):
Schrader RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon 2009: 8.43. Caymus Cabernet 2009: 8.71. Daou Estate Cabernet "Soul of a Lion" 2010: 8.93. The Estate Cabernet is 100% free run, aged 22 months in new French oak. To be released early 2013. In a word: Amazing.

3/5/2012 - dson wrote:

Barrel tasted March 3. Bottling in the next several weeks. 2010 Daou "1740." This St. Emillion style blend of 33% Estate Merlot and 67% Cabernet Franc is nothing short of. AMAZING! Sexy, seductive and silky---well balanced---a finish that goes on and on. Ever evolving hints of raspberry, plum, some earthiness---and yes....suddenly hints of butterscotch on the nose. Pure velvet. Sip on it's own...or pair with food. Can't wait to see how this presents once bottled and released.

1/21/2012 - dson wrote:

The Grenache really smooths out this wine. We popped and poured..no time needed t odecant. Nice fragrant nose...dark...black cherry, dark plum, a hint of minerality, and lightly spicy. Well balanced with a long and lingering finish. Glad I have 3 more bottles to enjoy.

1/1/2012 - dson wrote:

OMG! Had this New Year's Eve....if this isn't the most amazing Syrah on the planet today..I don't know what is. DARK purple...coats the glass. A nose that sends shivers up your spine. HUGE....Chewy....spicey....dark berry fruit..licorice...tobacco....cedarwood. Fireworks going on in and around your mouth with a finish that just won't quit. A bit tight right out of the bottle (even tho used an aerator)...but after 10-15 minutes....the layers and flavors just kept on comin.....oh YUMMMMMY!

1/1/2012 - dson wrote:

amazing! Hints of grapefruit, guava, mango, pineapple. Tropical fruits with a bit of lemon zest. Lingering finish that just wants you to lay under a palm tree, listen to the waves and let your mind take you to nirvana.

12/29/2011 - dson wrote:

GREAT color, fruit forward and a finish that goes on and on. This was chewy, layered, complex and reminded me more of a BIG Rhone blend rather than a Bordeaux blend. Incredible. Then only problem is: I"M OUT!

9/23/2011 - dson wrote:

Nose of pineapple, apricot and tropical fruit. slightly acidic with a hint of minerality. Nice finish...not terribly long or complex....but a very refreshing summer wine while sitting around the pool. Always consistent and reliable.

9/22/2011 - dson wrote:

Wonderful nose....fruity, not too sweet, fragrant. First sip was just slightly hot...took about a minute to dissipate. Beautifully balances with crisp bright flavors. Slightly sour cherry and plum overtones, nicely balanced off with cassis and a very mild earthy tones. LONG...very long.....lingering finish...with subtle dark red fruits that just linger on the palate and throughout the whole mouth. Far superior to what I remember when I originally tasted this about 3 years ago.