The story of Daou begins dates back to 1956 in Lebanon, 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.
I have been very pressed with these wines, especially their top Cabernet bottling, Soul of A Lion. I love the new 2022 Daou ‘Reserve’ Rose (OB, 92) which is vibrant and shows incredible texture. Learn more about these outstanding wines at daouvineyards.com and here are my new reviews of the new Daou Vineyards wines.
2021 Daou ‘Bodyguard’ Chardonnay- The 2021 ‘Bodyguard’ is a fantastic bottling by Daou that shows some good aging potential. Ripe pear and pink grapefruit zest combines with shades of creme brûlée on the palate. Really good now, with some marzipan and nutty undertones, this will cellar well for another seven plus years. Drink 2023-2030- 92
2022 Daou Rose- Juicy pear and strawberry fill the palate in this delicious Rose. Big, with broad shoulders and plenty of stuffing, this delicious bottling is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2023-2028- 90
2022 Daou ‘Reserve’ Rose- Beautifully textured and ripe, the 2022 ‘Reserve’ Rose is a astonishingly good new Rose. Rich pear and kiwi flavors combine with a great core of citrus blossom water and bright guava and strawberry fruits on the palate. Finishing long this is delicious Rose that will cellar well over the next seven years. Drink 2023-2030- 92