I have really lucked out recently finding stellar wines at truly affordable prices. The DAOU Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is one I have always wanted to try, but the $27 price tag gave me pause. I won’t hesitate to pay that – or more – for a wine I know, but not for an unknown commodity. So I waited for the 2017 to go on sale, and I took the plunge.
The tasting notes are coming up, but first – some history.
Daniel Daou and his brother Georges grew up in the Middle East, in Lebanon, amidst the ancient olive groves of their grandfather. They loved the rural life and would have stayed there had the family home not been destroyed by bombs during the Lebanese Civil War! For safety, the Daous emigrated to Southern France, and found themselves surrounded by vineyards, which reminded them of their childhood home, and instilled in them a dream of a life making wine. This dream was realized in 2010 when they left a lucrative career in the tech industry, and purchased the Hoffman Mountain Ranch in the Adelaida Hills of Paso Robles. By 2013 Daou Vineyards was selected as Winery Of The Year by the Connoisseur’s Guide to California Wine (CGCW), and their Cabernet has received 90+ ratings every year from Wine Spectator, Robert Parker, and Wine Enthusiast.
The 2017 Daou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon was definitely worth waiting for! Delicious raspberry and cherry aromas, with vanilla and baking spices on the nose, and fresh blackberry, ripe raspberry, and bing cherry flavors. This is a juicy wine, with plenty of fruit, but it’s superbly balanced with nice acidity and ripe tannins, and a hint of sweet tobacco leaf and pepper on the finish. Yum!
On my five-cork scale based on taste and value the 2017 Daou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon gets a solid 4 corks! I would have rated it higher – it tastes that good – but at $25+ a bottle normally, that puts it out of reach for a lot of us to drink on a regular basis. If you can find it on sale like I did (I bought this bottle for $19.99!) then buy a few, one to enjoy now, and the rest to lay down for a few years. This excellent wine will only get better with age!
If you’d like to try interesting wines like this, please join me at our next private wine party coming soon! I host a wine dinner every month, and we feature several interesting wines, each paired with a delicious course. There are always cool prizes to win, too, so listen Wednesday at 4:15 to win your spot on the guest list, or click here for a chance to win!
