Daou is a wonderful tale of the American Dream. It is a tale that started in Lebanon, back in 1956, as Joseph and Marie Daou married after a whirlwind romance. Years passed and the Daou family grew, as Joseph transformed his father’s small carpentry business, DAOU and Sons, into one of the most successful furnishing companies in the entire Middle East. Following the Lebanese Civil War, the family had to move to France and start all over. Living in Cannes in the south of France Joseph developed a passion for wine.
The sons, Georges and Daniel, followed in their family’s entrepreneurial footsteps and started their own company, DAOU Systems, a networking technology company that would revolutionize hospital computer systems. This company went public and was sold in 1998. Daniel had become a passionate garage winemaker, reading every book he could find on wine and he saw the potential for making great Cabernet Sauvignon in Paso Robles. The brothers are now proprietors of Daou Vineyards, with Daniel serving as winemaker.
For years I have admired these beautiful wines, particularly their top Cabernet bottling, Soul of A Lion (SRP $170.00). I love the new 2020 Daou ‘Discovery Collection’ Rose (OB, 91) which is fresh and beautifully textured wine. I love the new 2019 Daou ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 94) showing great viscosity and rich dark and blue fruit flavors. These wines are reasonably priced, under 100 dollars. Learn more about these outstanding wines at daouvineyards.com and here are my new reviews of the Daou Vineyards wines.
2020 Daou ‘Discovery Collection’ Rose- A blend of 95% Grenache Noir and 5% Sauvignon Blanc, this offers a smooth texture with white peach, Japanese pear and suggestions of sweetened gooseberry on the palate. Really good now, enjoy over the next five plus years. Drink 2022-2027- 91
2019 Daou ‘Sequentis Reserve’ Merlot- Rich kirsch cordial notes combine with baking spices, sweet pipe tobacco and mochaa on the palate. Forward and juicy, with good acidity and light tannins, drink now and over the next seven years. Drink 2022-2029- 91
2019 Daou ‘Bodyguard’ Red WIne- The 2019 ‘Bodyguard’ is a blend of 58% Petit Verdot with the remainder 42% Petite Sirah. The juicy blue fruits from the Petite Sirah are shining brightly with dried herbs, chocolate cake and espresso grounds. Delightful in its youth, this is glorious wine to consume over the next seven years. Drink 2022-2029- 92
2019 Daou ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a generous and deep wine by Daou. Smooth on the mouth, the silky texture really drives this beautiful wine that shows power and precision. The palate is refined and elegant, as this finishes very long with black currants, Turkish coffee and blueberry pie flavors. Enjoy this outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 94
