Red Wine DAOU Central Coast Pinot Noir 2018. This graceful and perfectly-balanced Central Coast Pinot is bursting with cherry, redcurrant, strawberry and rose petal notes along with deeper notes of toasted oak, dried herbs and African violet. The silky smooth texture and medium body combine beautifully with the rich red fruit, ending in a pure, clean finish seasoned with black olive, cigar box spice and truffle which linger long on the tongue. This sophisticated cool climate Californian Pinot is the handiwork of Daniel Daou who has decades of experience of working with many of the region’s finest plots for growing Pinot Noir such as Solomon Hills and Gary’s Vineyard. This new release is crafted from a selection of Daniel’s favorite vineyards on the coast where the nearby Pacific Ocean provides plenty of cooling breezes and fogs to help lock in delicate aromatics and freshness in the grapes. Daniel and his brother Georges founded DAOU in the Santa Rita hills after falling in love with wine when they fled their native Lebanon for a new life in France. Later the brothers found themselves living and working in the USA, and it wasn’t long before they had discovered this exceptional hillside property which has been described by legendary winemaker André Tchelistcheff as a jewel of ecological elements”. Over the years the brothers have made their mark on the California wine scene thanks to their skilful winemaking inspired by the classic wines of France and their Lebanese homeland.
2018
Red Wine DAOU Central Coast Pinot Noir 2018
Red Wine DAOU Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018. It is recommended to decant it for an hour. Located in California’s Adelaida AVA district of Paso Robles, Daou Vineyards is a winery engaged primarily in the production of Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends. Founded in 2007 by brothers George and Daniel Daou, the company initially consisted of only a portion of land previously owned by Hoffman Mountain Ranch. The company then expanded in 2012 with the acquisition of the rest of the Hoffman property, and the consequent increase in vineyards to an area of 86 hectares. On the nose, this cuvée reveals an abundance of dark roasted coffee beans and mahogany, which land on a tasty berry jam. The palate reveals a deeply savory note of espresso and charred meat, backed by lingering acidity that clings to a dark core of blackberries. Tannins are smooth and the finish is long. Made from a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, and 8% Petit Verdot, the DAOU Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine of great elegance and character, that can be enjoyed now with some food or kept in the cellar for a special occasion. It’s the perfect wine for a rib-eye steak or a winter evening on the couch!
2018
Red Wine DAOU Reserve Eye of the Falcon 2018. Decant 1 hours before serving. Brothers Georges and Daniel Daou scoured the Napa Valley for the perfect terroir to found their ambitious new winery before finally discovering this prized Paso Robles property. The 212 acre estate is set in the Adelaida District and has been described as a jewel of ecological elements” by top Californian winemaker André Tchelistcheff. The limestone-rich soils are reminiscent of those found in many top French vineyards, while the pleasant Napa climate favours premium winemaking, helping to create stunning Bordeaux-style blends with a distinctive New World vibrancy and power. The brothers’ Eye of the Falcon cuvee is are careful composition of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot which is aged in 70% new French oak barrels to soften and harmonise the young wine. Enticing cassis, black cherry, and crushed wild berry aromas immediately burst out of the glass followed by undertones of graphite, leather, and tobacco leaf. The first sip reveals a generous full body, firm yet smooth tannins, and a long finish seasoned with hints of dried herbs, cedar, and woodsmoke from the oak ageing. This blockbuster cuvee will continue to age beautifully in the cellar over the next decade or so, although it can also be savoured now alongside hearty red meat dishes.
2018