Community Tasting Notes 8

• JHalvorson Likes this wine: 94 points

  April 10, 2024 - Some friends over for a little tasting of big red wines. This was the best wine of the evening and far from the most expensive.

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• Decanting Queen Likes this wine: 91 points

  December 21, 2022 - I have to admit that I was slightly disappointed when this was the wine poured for our pairing with elk loin as I don’t get that excited about Paso Cabs (although yes, I know there are some decent ones). However, this turned out to be a very good pairing, very balanced and fruity and spicy, really complimented the richness of the meat. Cannot complain.

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• iamandyc Likes this wine: 92 points

  December 1, 2022 - Score reflects the average of its performance over 3 days. On day #1, it is tight, tannic, oaky and only hints at pleasure to come (89 pts.) even with hours of air. Improves greatly on day #2 with fruit balancing out the structure and the spice and tobacco notes on the finish (92 points). On day#3, it all came together, peaked early and then started to fall apart. Solid 93 points at its peak. Expressive spicy, herb and fruit driven nose. A labor of love!

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• Snoot Doggie Dogg Likes this wine: 93 points

  August 6, 2022 - Daou is a winery with an interesting history: the owner is originally from Lebanon, and he left for France to escape the civil war. While there, he studied winemaking in Bordeaux and fell in love with wines from the Right Bank (especially Cheval Blanc). Originally a computer and electrical engineer by trade, he is technically minded and quickly picked up the nuances of wine science before deciding to start a winery of his own. He came to Paso Robles and selected a 2200-ft mountain (now named Daou Mountain) for his winery based on its clay soil bearing similarities to that of Right Bank Bordeaux. The winery then opened in 2010 and has since established itself as a powerhouse for Bordeaux-style reds.
  
  The tasting room opened in 2011 and is absolutely LOVELY; situated on top of the mountain, it has beautiful gardens and amazing views of the vineyards below. The staff very knowledgeable and happy to answer my (admittedly copious and likely burdensome) questions. It is definitely worth a visit, but beware that reserving a tasting can be a bit tricky; due to the winery’s popularity, tastings are often booked solid 2-3 weeks out, so be sure to make a reservation well in advance if you would like to visit!
  
  For this wine, the vintner’s goal was to represent First Growth Bordeaux with “Old World tradition, New World innovation” by focusing on earth and minerality while maintaining a structured softness and smoothness. The juice had skin contact for three days, was racked twice and aged for 20 months in 100% new French oak. The winery claimed this to be more balanced than the 2018 vintage, and I will attest that it is softer and more velvety by comparison.
  
  Deep ruby in color with an inky black core, this wine is rather aromatic with a nose that is brighter than one would expect form a wine with this degree of body and depth. Its superbly rich nose is full of dark fruits, fresh tobacco leaf, cedar, leather, potting soil and a hint of mushroom. Upon sipping, one meets a velvety, silky-smooth, full-bodied wine with beefy tannins and moderate acidity. Truly an incredible mouthfeel! The attack is quite earthy, and as the midpalate emerges, the acidity intensifies as blackberry, black currant, and ripe red cherry are presented. These are accompanied by a heavy dose of black coffee, dark chocolate, and potting soil with some oaky vanilla and a touch of white pepper. The finish is VERY long, starting off with a mixture of vanilla and black currant before coffee re-emerges and gradually fades away over the course of several minutes with cocoa powder, leaving one with a tannic dryness and acidic tingle.
  
  When I tried this the first time, my exact words were “This is a helluva wine!” It has more of an earthy than fruity focus, which is a nice departure from the over-oaked fruit bomb nonsense that often comes out of Napa Valley (yes, I’m looking at you Duckhorn). It is VERY supple, actually, with the beefy tannins being well-integrated into the full body. I cannot over-emphasize how lovely the mouthfeel is with its beautiful tannin structure! It went wonderfully with a simple grilled steak; the tannins worked well with fat, and the fruitiness acted as a sort of steak sauce that highlighted the meat’s flavor. Also of note, the 2018 vintage went great with cheese fondue. The tannins also give this tremendous aging potential.
  
  Overall: bravo!

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• guitarro28 Likes this wine: 93 points

  April 7, 2022 - Minerality, complexity… beautiful now. Tasted at the winery but I will let it stay in my cellar 2 or 3 years.

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Pro Reviews 3

Wine Definition

• Vintage 2019
• Type Red
• Producer Daou Vineyards
• Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
• Designation Estate
• Vineyard n/a
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Central Coast
• Appellation Paso Robles Adelaida District
• UPC Codes 850008182693, 890409002398

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 2 (0%)
• In Cellars 783 (67%)
• Consumed 384 (33%)

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