DAOU Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Full-bodied dry red wine with a powerful yet elegant structure and rich, expressive fruit profile. · DAOU Family Estates is a renowned winery founded by brothers Georges and Daniel Daou, located in the Adelaida District of Paso Robles. Known for producing world-class Bordeaux-style blends and single-varietal wines, the estate has achieved cult-like status and high critical acclaim, establishing Paso Robles as a premier global wine region.
Vintage: 2022 growing season in Paso Robles experienced warm days tempered by cool maritime influences, resulting in optimal ripeness, vibrant acidity, and excellent structural balance.
Type
Full-bodied dry red wine with a powerful yet elegant structure and rich, expressive fruit profile.
Producer
DAOU Family Estates is a renowned winery founded by brothers Georges and Daniel Daou, located in the Adelaida District of Paso Robles. Known for producing world-class Bordeaux-style blends and single-varietal wines, the estate has achieved cult-like status and high critical acclaim, establishing Paso Robles as a premier global wine region.
Country
United States, representing the New World wine landscape with a focus on innovative viticulture, modern winemaking techniques, and bold, fruit-forward flavor profiles.
Vintage
2022 growing season in Paso Robles experienced warm days tempered by cool maritime influences, resulting in optimal ripeness, vibrant acidity, and excellent structural balance.
Region & Appellation
Paso Robles, California, USA, specifically within the Adelaida District AVA known for its high elevations, steep slopes, and calcareous soils.
Grape Varieties
100% Cabernet Sauvignon, selected for its depth, robust structural tannins, and ability to express the unique calcareous terroir of the DAOU Mountain.
Color & Appearance
Deep ruby-purple core with a vibrant magenta rim, showing excellent viscosity and slow-moving legs that signal high extract and concentration.
Aroma Profile
Intense aromas of ripe black cherry, cassis, and blackberry, complemented by secondary notes of vanilla, toasted cedar, espresso bean, and a subtle hint of graphite and dried herbs.
Tasting Notes
A powerful and harmonious palate offering an initial surge of dark fruit, evolving into layers of mocha and cassis on the mid-palate, leading into a long, polished finish with structured, velvety tannins.
Flavor Profile
Dominated by bold flavors of black currant, black cherry, and plum, accented by non-fruit notes of sweet oak spice, dark chocolate, tobacco leaf, and wet stone minerality.
Body & Texture
Full-bodied with a lush, velvety texture, supported by a dense core of fruit extract and a seamless, mouth-coating weight.
Acidity & Tannins
Medium-plus, balancing acidity that provides freshness and lift, coupled with fine-grained, ripe, and structured tannins typical of high-end Paso Robles Cabernet.
Sweetness Level
Bone dry with negligible residual sugar, though perceived sweetness comes from ultra-ripe fruit concentration and sweet oak aging.
Alcohol Content
14.5% ABV, typical for a rich, sun-drenched California Cabernet Sauvignon, providing warmth and depth without feeling overly hot.
Aging & Oak
Aged for approximately 8 to 10 months in French oak barrels, a significant portion of which are new, imparting subtle notes of vanilla, toast, and baking spices.
Food Pairings
Ideal pairings include grilled ribeye steak, roasted rack of lamb, braised short ribs, and aged sharp cheddar or gouda cheeses due to the wine's rich tannins and bold fruit profile.
Serving Suggestions
Serve at 60-65°F (15-18°C) in a large Bordeaux glass. Decanting for 30 to 60 minutes is recommended to allow the aromas to fully open up.
Price Range
30 to 45 USD, offering exceptional value for a high-scoring, premium California Cabernet Sauvignon.
Quality Assessment
Estimated score of 90-93 points, representing a super-premium tier wine with great consistency across vintages and high praise from major wine publications.
Production Methods
Hand-harvested at optimal ripeness, destemmed and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with gentle pump-overs, followed by malolactic fermentation and French oak barrel maturation.
Terroir
Grown on DAOU Mountain at elevations up to 2,200 feet, featuring unique calcareous clay soils similar to those found in Bordeaux's Right Bank, combined with extreme diurnal temperature shifts.
History & Heritage
Georges and Daniel Daou acquired the historic Hoffmann Mountain Ranch in 2007 with the vision of producing world-class Cabernet Sauvignon that could rival the best estates in France.
Interesting Facts
DAOU Mountain was once described by legendary winemaker André Tchelistcheff as having soils and microclimates capable of producing benchmark Cabernet Sauvignon.
Cellaring Potential
Approachable now after brief decanting, but possesses the structure and concentration to cellar gracefully for 5 to 10 years.
Similar Wines
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon, Justin Cabernet Sauvignon, Postmark Cabernet Sauvignon, and Quilt Cabernet Sauvignon.