Thought this would be an interesting wine with the 60% Cab Franc and 40% Merlot blend. It indeed is and this certainly stood out in my view from other Daou wines I’ve tried. Initially, it was very dark with a muted nose offering mostly black fruits. It opened up (some cellar time needed here) after an hour or so in the decanter and slowly but surely began to sing. It evolved into a more playful and slightly lighter style but I was still surprised how the black undertones dominated. It’s big, brash, and needs some time but after a decant of a few hours can be enjoyed now. I would have liked some more complexity in the finish and transitions which for me puts it closer to 92 points rather than 94 points.
93-95+ points, Jeb Dunnuck
92-94+ points, Robert Parker
WINE SPECS
Vintage 2017
Varietal Red Blend
Appellation Paso Robles
Alcohol % 14.4
