DAOU Reserve Chardonnay 2017 Front Bottle Shot
DAOU Reserve Chardonnay 2017 Front Bottle Shot DAOU Reserve Chardonnay 2017 Front Label

Winemaker Notes

This delectable and delicious offering from the temperate western hills of Paso Robles shows bright citrus, honey, and warm toast aromas accompanied by hints of tangerine and orange blossom, with notes of vanilla, lemon chiffon and nutmeg spice. These are followed by subtly nuanced traces of white peach, jasmine and hazelnut. Voluptuous and voluminous on the palate, with cascading flavors of pineapple, nectarine, sweet casaba melon and cinnamon toast, the silky texture unveiling further layers of honeysuckle, lemon meringue and cashew. Plenty of weight and substance graced with a refreshing crispness. Finishing long and clean, with rainforest floral and tropical fruit notes accented with spiced pear, toasted almonds and caramel apple.

Professional Ratings

  • 93
    Aromas of honeyed pear and tangerine introduce this rich, mouth-flling white. The favor profle speaks to charred marshmallow, lemon drops, and crème brûlée. Decadently good.
  • 92
    Creamy aromas of lemon meringue, butterscotch and toasted marshmallow are cut by zesty lemon peels and flesh on the nose of this bottling. It’s a very full expression of Chardonnay on the palate, where toast and almond tones are leveled by lemon-lime acidity and whiteflower flavors, all finishing on a caramel candy tone.
DAOU Family Estates

DAOU Family Estates

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DAOU Family Estates  Walk with DAOU Vineyards Winery Video

Brothers Georges Daou and Daniel Daou set forth across the globe to find an unrivaled terroir for producing Cabernet Sauvignon, a quest that led them to a place of foretold greatness: DAOU Mountain in the Adelaida District of Paso Robles. DAOU Family Estates is a family owned and operated winery committed to producing collectible, world-class wine to rival the most respected appellations. Situated on a 212-acre hilltop estate in the Adelaida District of Paso Robles, this remarkable mountain was once described by André Tchelistcheff, legendary winemaking authority, as “a jewel of ecological elements.”

DAOU Mountain stands alone at an elevation of 2,200 feet, rising from the heart of the Adelaida District in the rugged coastal range west of Paso Robles. The steep slopes here reach up to 56 percent, with uniform exposure to the elements across the estate. It is a terroir of power, purity and symmetry, with every natural asset necessary to pursue the perfect Cabernet Sauvignon—including calcareous clay soils that emulate Bordeaux’s Right Bank and a climate that mirrors St. Helena.

There is a power within this Mountain they call home. It is a power that can turn mere raindrops and roots into extraordinary wines—and into lasting relationships—that will endure for decades. Everyday the winery strives to create an experience as beautiful as these wines, ensuring that everyone feels like family. There is nothing more important than human connection.

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One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.

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Willow Creek District

Paso Robles, California

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Growing on high elevation bedrock slopes, the vineyards of Paso Robles Willow Creek AVA sit at between 960 and 1,900 feet in elevation.

SWS954439_2017 Item# 518654