Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Possibly the finest vintage to date from this cuvée, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate comes all from the estate on the westside of Paso and was brought up in new barrels. Rock star notes of crème de cassis, spicy oak, chocolate, and graphite all flow to a full-bodied Cabernet that has sweet tannins and beautiful balance. It’s already terrific, but I suspect it will be even better with 2-3 years of bottle age. Rating: 93+
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Wine Enthusiast
Aromas of black plum, black olive and violet lead into a texturally dynamic palate loaded with ripe but not overdone black currant, baking spice and vanilla flavors. Strong acidity drives the finish.
Editors' Choice -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Tasted from barrel, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is very promising, revealing a youthfully primary bouquet of currants and plums that's already integrated its new oak. On the palate, it's full-bodied, richly structured and generous, with a sun-kissed core of fruit and a dry, fine-grained finish. A cuvée that includes purchased fruit, this is typically a great value. I'm looking forward to seeing it from bottle.
Barrel Sample: 90-92 -
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: In the wine business, we often bandy terms about that may make sense to professionals, but not to everyday consumers. One of the phrases I often here is "classic wines." What is a classic wine? Regarding Cabernet Sauvignons, Napa Valley often gets tagged with this designation. Attributes such as black fruits, savory spices, plenty of tannins are generally in the mix. The 2017 Daou Cabernet Sauvignon, from Paso Robles, has many of these characteristics. TASTING NOTES: This is a firm, yet well-balanced wine. Its aromas and flavors of black fruit, savory spices, oak, and firm tannins should pair it beautifully with a seared hanger steak. (Tasted: December 4, 2018, San Francisco, CA)
As Paso Robles, California has soared in number of wineries and gained in popularity, Cabernet Sauvignon has firmly taken root as the region’s number one varietal. Alone, it accounts for just over 40% of plantings and is grown throughout both the western and eastern sides of the appellation. Though viticulture here dates back to the 18th century, Cabernet Sauvignon didn’t emerge as a significant grape here until the 1970’s. But since then it has definitely made up for lost time.
Legendary winemaker and consultant Andre Tchelistcheff first recognized Paso’s potential with Cabernet Sauvignon in the early 1960’s. The calcareous soil and dramatic diurnal temperature changes of Paso’s westside particularly intrigued him. Today modern winemaking techniques and focused experimentation with various clones, rootstocks and vineyard strategies optimize the region's ideal combination of soil and climate to deliver the best fruit possible.
The results are evident in the glass. Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon can be mesmerizing, with rich aromas and flavors of blackberry, cassis, black cherry, graphite, toasty oak, vanilla and spice. The structure, balance and unbridled opulence of these wines impress from first sip to last. Not surprisingly, Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignons have steadily grown in reputation, not just in the U.S., but around the world.