Daou - Soul of a Lion (2020) Paso Robles

George and Daniel Daou left Lebanon when the civil war escalated in 1975, emigrating to France where they discovered their passion for wine, before settling in California. They’ve established themselves in the Adelaida District, where Patrimony Estate can be found. If you are not familiar with Paso Robles, now is the time to get to know it. As Josh Raynolds of Vinous explains, “[Paso Robles] deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Napa when it comes to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot”. The phenolics produced from the vineyard are amongst the highest in the world, yielding wines of intense colour, complexity and structure.

The 2020 vintage presents a seductive array of black cherry, mulberry and Oregon blackberry aromas with notes of leather, cigar box and dark chocolate. A hint of desert sage and crème de menthe underlines the rich fruit. The palate is silky and lush, with an abundance of currants, cassis, black raspberries and ripe cherries. Notes of figs and baking spices are underlined by earthy tones of dates and truffles. Ripe, ripe tannins result in a weighty, velvety texture combined with a chalky minerality and subtle oak. The long finish leaves impressions of blackberry, plum and espresso with a hint of white pepper. A wine of great consistency that will continue to develop positively for many years to come.

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