TEN YEARS AGO, brothers Georges Daou and Daniel Daou set forth across California 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. Here, their vision is to make California “first growth” wine, fulfilling the district’s promise as the world’s next benchmark for Bordeaux varieties.
“We will stop at nothing less than producing the perfect Cabernet Sauvignon, in steadfast service to DAOU Mountain and its incomparable terroir. We view
our quest as a sacred trust, one that extends to all who step foot on the mountain, and to all who experience the luxuries of DAOU wines around the world.” — G E O RG ES J. DAO U, Proprietor
DAOUVINEYARDS.COM
REGION: ADELAIDA DISTRICT AVA
DAOU MOUNTAIN
MORE THAN 40 YEARS AGO, legendary winemaking authority
2,200 feet above sea level, rising from the heart of the Adelaida
André Tchelistcheff stood on the slopes of what would become
District. It is a terroir of power, purity and symmetry, with
known as DAOU Mountain, speaking of great things to come from
every natural asset necessary to pursue the perfect Cabernet
the surrounding Adelaida area in the rugged coastal range west of Paso
Sauvignon—including calcareous clay soils that evoke
Robles on California’s Central Coast. That moment has now arrived, as
Bordeaux’s Right Bank and a climate that closely corresponds
the Adelaida District—one of 11 sub-appellations of Paso Robles—is
to St. Helena. The wines are never acidified, as the optimal
today regarded as the next frontier for world-class Cabernet Sauvignon.
level of acidity is achieved organically. Additionally, the
DAOU MOUNTAIN STANDS ALONE at an elevation of
phenolics produced on the mountain are uniquely high, yielding wines of prodigious color, texture and structure. Slopes ranging from 28% to 56% in grade Predominantly calcareous clay soils 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean, facing the marine air channel of Templeton Gap High density planting ranging from 2,234 to 2,480 vines per acre Planted to Bordeaux varieties, predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon Top Cabernet Sauvignon clones, including To-Kalon, 169, 337 & 412
VITICULTURE & WINEMAKING THE WINEMAKING VISION OF DAOU is to seek absolute purity—in the flavors of the wines, and in how those flavors portray a true reflection of the land. Winemaker Daniel Daou is relentless in his pursuit of this ideal, implementing an array of proprietary techniques and technologies to create one of the most rigorously innovative winemaking programs in the world. DAOU subscribes to true dry farming where possible,
Daniel Daou employs cutting-edge technologies for
and deficit irrigation when needed—an approach
testing wine phenolics during fermentation, enabling
that maximizes fruit intensity while conserving a
him to precisely meet his vision for each wine’s color,
precious resource.
mouthfeel and tannin profile.
Daniel Daou collects intensive daily data—through
Daniel Daou supervises the coopering of his own
both manual field measurement and wireless sensor
proprietary French oak barrels. The DAOU 5-Year is
technology—to cultivate an optimal vine growth ratio
made from a rare fine-grain pink oak known as bois
during the crucial early days of the growing season.
rosé, which imparts an array of complex yet subtle flavors
DAOU Estate wines are made with the proprietary “D20”
to the DAOU Soul of a Lion. The DAOU Hybrid is
yeast cultured from DAOU Mountain, which is prized for
composed of oak from the Tronçais and Jupille forests,
its remarkable ability to maintain acidity; extract color;
and is designed specifically for maturing the DAOU
amplify flavor and texture; and produce lower alcohols.
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.
“We have challenged ourselves to produce wines that will rival the greatest. There is no
question that we have the terroir. Success will come through reverence for this land—the idea
that we are not ‘making’ something from it, but rather mirroring all that is already there.” — DA N I EL J. DAO U, Proprietor / Winemaker
ESTATE COLLECTION
RECENT ACCOLADES
DAOU ESTATE COLLECTION wines are
WINE ENTHUSIAST
made from the finest vineyard blocks on DAOU
96 points 2013 DAOU Estate Soul of a Lion 94 points 2013 DAOU Estate Mayote 94 points 2014 DAOU Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 92 points 2015 Reserve Chardonnay
Mountain. These wines showcase the visionary talent of Daniel Daou as a winemaker, and embody our mission to produce California “first growth” Cabernet Sauvignon.
WINE SPECTATOR 93 points 2014 DAOU Estate Soul of a Lion 90 points 2013 DAOU Estate Soul of a Lion 93 points 2015 DAOU Cabernet Sauvignon 90 points 2013 DAOU Cabernet Sauvignon
RESERVE COLLECTION
JEB DUNNUCK
DAOU RESERVE COLLECTION wines are made from premium fruit sourced from DAOU Mountain as well as select Paso Robles AVA vineyards, then blended to create stunningly harmonious offerings.
PASO ROBLES COLLECTION
95-97 points 2016 DAOU Estate Soul of a Lion 94-96 points 2015 DAOU Estate Soul of a Lion 97 points 2014 DAOU Estate Soul of a Lion 94-96 points 2016 DAOU Estate Mayote 93-95 points 2015 DAOU Estate Mayote 91-93 points 2016 DAOU Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 91+ points 2015 DAOU Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 91 points 2016 DAOU Cabernet Sauvignon 90 points 2015 DAOU Cabernet Sauvignon 90 points 2016 DAOU Pessimist 90 points 2015 DAOU Pessimist
DAOU PASO ROBLES COLLECTION wines
ROBERT PARKER’S WINE ADVOCATE
are hand-harvested from standout local vineyards
95-97 points 2016 DAOU Estate Soul of a Lion
and made using the same techniques and standards as our DAOU Reserve and DAOU Estate collections.
94-96 points 2016 DAOU Estate Soul of a Lion 94+ points 2015 DAOU Estate Soul of a Lion 95 points 2014 DAOU Estate Soul of a Lion 94-96 points 2017 DAOU Estate Mayote 93-95 points 2016 DAOU Estate Mayote 94 points 2015 DAOU Estate Mayote
by
PESSIMIST is a wine made to rattle the status quo and deliver unprecedented quality in the world of approachable blends. Its aura is youthful, but its appeal is universal. It is sourced from some of Paso Robles’ finest vineyards and crafted according to the renowned standards of the DAOU winemaking program.
97 points 2014 DAOU Estate Mayote 92-94 points 2017 DAOU Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 91-93 points 2016 DAOU Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 91 points 2015 DAOU Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 93 points 2014 DAOU Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 90 points 2014 DAOU Cabernet Sauvignon 92 points 2013 DAOU Cabernet Sauvignon 92 points 2016 DAOU Pessimist 90 points 2015 DAOU Pessimist 90 points 2014 DAOU Pessimist
2 7 7 7 H I D D E N M O U N TA I N R O A D , PA S O R O B L E S , C A L I F O R N I A 9 3 4 4 6 805.226.5460 DAOUVINEYARDS.COM VISIT@DAOUVINEYARDS.COM
The Judgment of Paso
96pts $125
The Tasting
93pts $85
100pts $354
99pts $550
95+pts $200
98pts $600
95+pts $300
Dominus
Schrader Cabernet Sauvignon RBS
Schrader Cabernet Sauvignon CCS
Chappellet Prtichard Hill
Scarecrow
Hundred Acre
DAOU Soul of a Lion
Patrimony
98pts $275
DAOU Cabernet Sauvignon
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate affirmed a new era for the Adelaida District of Paso Robles.
95+pts $200
In a blind tasting, renowned Wine Advocate critic Jeb Dunnuck pitted five of Napa’s most iconic wineries against outsider DAOU Vineyards & Winery from the Adelaida District.
The Wines
Six Napa cult Cabernets were tasted—all rated 95+ or more with three in the 98 to 100 range—along with three DAOU wines: Patrimony, Soul of a Lion and Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Results
The DAOU wines stood tall on rarified ground. Dunnuck wrote, “I’m thrilled to report that all three DAOU wines showed beautifully…In short, these are beautiful wines that readers shouldn’t miss.” Of
DAOU’s 2013 Patrimony, Dunnuck declared, “It’s the finest 100% Cabernet Sauvignon I've tasted from Paso Robles and it will stand toe-to-toe with the best coming out of Napa.”
“This was a massive tasting with brothers Daniel and Georges Daou, who have a large estate located high up off of Adelaida Road. While they release a terrific Syrah blend, their focus is on Bordeaux varieties...they
make the finest Bordeaux blends from Paso Robles. To give some perspective on how good these wines are, I did a blind tasting of top 2012s and 2013s from Napa with three wines from Daou, their Patrimony, Soul of
a Lion and Estate Cabernet. I’m thrilled to report that all three Daou wines showed beautifully. My scores/ ranking from the blind tasting were 2012 Hundred Acres (100 points), 2013 Scarecrow (99 points), 2013 Daou Patrimony (98 points), 2012 Schrader CCS (98 points), 2013 Daou Soul Of A Lion (96 points), 2012
Dominus (95+ points), 2012 Schrader RBS (95+ points), 2012 Chappellet Pritchard Hill (95+ points), 2013
Daou Estate Cabernet (93 points). In short, these are beautiful wines that readers shouldn’t miss.”
– Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate
“These ratings signal a new benchmark for Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon, and they are ultimately a shot across the bow.”” — G E O RG ES J. DAO U, Proprietor
“The Adelaida District is no longer a proving ground - it is now a proven contender for the finest Cabernets in Califonia.” — DA N I EL J. DAO U, Co-Proprietor /Winemaker
Switzerland International Allocation CURRENT RELEASES Item
Unit of Measure
12 pack
6 pack
6 pack
6 pack
Reserve
CABERNET SAUVIGNON THE WINE | From one of the greatest vintages Paso Robles has seen comes this captivating and
impressive Cabernet Sauvignon. The bouquet is a profusion of black cherry and Oregon blackberry aromas, laced with cigar box, desert sage and peppermint. A multitude of layers unfold revealing blueberry, cassis, leather, black plum and crushed stone with highlights of wild mushroom, bay leaf and white pepper. Voluptuous and
voluminous on the palate, the formidable fruit is accentuated with earthy undertones. The marvelous mouthfeel with firm, mature tannins results in a weighty yet velvety texture that gently surrenders to an elegant, powerful finish.
THE VINTAGE | If there was ever a perfect vintage, 2016 would be it. Bud break started early March and the warmth set in very quickly. The onset of veraison came rapidly and earlier than normal because
of a very warm June and July. There were a few scares because of the raging fires throughout the region but fortunately our grapes were not affected. In the month of August, approximately one week away from harvest,
very cold weather set in and the sugars stopped accumulating for several weeks allowing the perfect hang time to occur. The 2016 vintage allowed us to make our darkest, most concentrated wines yet. The longer hang time led to supple and very well integrated tannins. The 2016 wines will be long lived.
DAOU VINEYARDS & WINERY |
Family owned and operated, DAOU
Vineyards & Winery is committed to producing collectible, world-class wines to rival the most respected
appellations in the world. DAOU Mountain’s combination of remarkable geology, microclimate, a 2,200-foot
elevation, and steep slopes gives it a terroir described as “a jewel of ecological elements.” As stewards of this beautiful terroir, our goal is to make fine wines that honestly and accurately reflect the potential of the estate.
Accolades | 91-93+ points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate Barrel Aging | 20 months in 50% new French oak Alcohol | 14.5%
2016
ESTATE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON THE WINE |
Showcasing the characteristics of a great vintage accompanied by a
great pedigree, the 2016 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon delivers a stunning experience. Full bodied
with Deep Garnet-purple color, it displays a great bouquet of Blackberries, cooked blueberries, dark chocolate and a hint of wild mushrooms. On the palate, there is tremendous balance of
Acidity and Tannins accompanied by notions of crème de Cassis, licorice and Ash. A wine with
tremendous structure, it is built to provide tremendous pleasure upon release but will reward you with many years of bottle age.
THE VINTAGE |
If there was ever a perfect vintage, 2016 would be it. Bud
break started early March and the warmth set in very quickly. The onset of veraison came rapidly and earlier than normal because of a very warm June and July. There were a few scares because of the raging fires throughout the region but fortunately our grapes were not affected. In the month
of August, approximately one week away from harvest, very cold weather set in and the sugars stopped accumulating for several weeks allowing the perfect hang time to occur. The 2016 vintage allowed us to make our darkest, most concentrated wines yet. The longer hang time led to supple and very well integrated tannins. The 2016 wines will be long lived.
DAOU VINEYARDS & WINERY | Family owned and operated,
DAOU Vineyards & Winery is committed to producing collectible, world-class wines to rival
the most respected appellations in the world. DAOU Mountain’s combination of remarkable geology, microclimate, a 2,200-foot elevation, and steep slopes gives it a terroir described as “a jewel of ecological elements.” As stewards of this beautiful terroir, our goal is to make fine wines that honestly and accurately reflect the potential of the estate.
Varietal(s) | 100 % Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Aging | 20 months in 80% new French oak Alcohol | 14.7%
2016
ESTATE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON THE WINE |
This powerful yet elegant wine displays strong aromatics of black
raspberry and cassis fruits, Floral bouquet, Vanilla bean and hints of licorice. Full bodied
with a perfect and seamless integration of tannins, this wine showcases great harmony in the integration of the fruit and the tannins. On the palate you find classic cabernet flavors
that include cassis, licorice, lead pencil shavings and black currant. The experience is never disconnected and carries beautiful symmetry from the moment the wine hits your palate until
long after. A well-built Cabernet Sauvignon showing ideal varietal character with tremendous potential with some aging time in the bottle.
THE VINTAGE | The season started out on track with a warmer month of March and April. Bud break started early march and the soils benefited from a little more rain than the
previous few years. May brought very cold temperatures to the mountain and strong winds which
resulted in severe shatter. As a result of this, yields were 50% or more down from normal. At last, heat finally arrived early June which allowed the small crop to ripen beautifully and on time by
early September. 2015 did not see many heat spikes during the vintage and was a cooler vintage than normal. Because of the low yield, flavors are intense and balanced and tannins are very well integrated.
DAOU VINEYARDS & WINERY | Family owned and operated,
DAOU Vineyards & Winery is committed to producing collectible, world-class wines to rival
the most respected appellations in the world. DAOU Mountain’s combination of remarkable geology, microclimate, a 2,200-foot elevation, and steep slopes gives it a terroir described as “a jewel of ecological elements.” As stewards of this beautiful terroir, our goal is to make fine wines that honestly and accurately reflect the potential of the estate.
ACCOLADES |
92 points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate;
92 points, Jeb Dunnuck; 92 points, Vinous
Varietal(s) | 100 % Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Aging | 20 months in 80% new French oak Alcohol | 14.5%
2015
ESTATE
SOUL OF A LION THE WINE |
The 2015 Soul of a Lion is a beautifully concentrated wine
accompanied by tremendous elegance that incorporates some old world flavors due to the vintage’s characteristics. Endowed with beautiful purity and texture, it has all the standard classic Cabernet Sauvignon flavors that include Graphite, Lead Pencil Shavings, Blackcurrants and Ash. The
higher percentage of Cabernet Franc in this vintage gives it a beautiful aroma and an additional elegant component that rounds it up for a very long finish. Drinking surprising well today, we expect it to shut down shortly for a few years just to be re-awakened for long term cellaring.
THE VINTAGE | The season started out on track with a warmer month of March
and April. Bud break started early march and the soils benefited from a little more rain than the previous few years. May brought very cold temperatures to the mountain and strong winds which resulted in severe shatter. As a result of this, yields were 50% or more down from normal. At last,
heat finally arrived early June which allowed the small crop to ripen beautifully and on time by
early September. 2015 did not see many heat spikes during the vintage and was a cooler vintage than normal. Because of the low yield, flavors are intense and balanced and tannins are very well integrated.
DAOU VINEYARDS & WINERY | Family owned and operated,
DAOU Vineyards & Winery is committed to producing collectible, world-class wines to rival
the most respected appellations in the world. DAOU Mountain’s combination of remarkable geology, microclimate, a 2,200-foot elevation, and steep slopes gives it a terroir described as “a jewel of ecological elements.” As stewards of this beautiful terroir, our goal is to make fine wines that honestly and accurately reflect the potential of the estate.
ACCOLADES |
92-94 points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate;
94-96 points, Jeb Dunnuck
Varietal(s) | 76 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 11% Petit Verdot Barrel Aging | 22 months in 100% new French oak Alcohol | 14.7%
2015
A California first-growth Cabernet Sauvignon without peer, fulfilling the Adelaida District’s destiny as the world’s next benchmark for Bordeaux varieties. VINTAGE The 2015 growing season was a wild ride that found its equilibrium in the end. Spring arrived on track with bud break in early March and relatively warm temperatures through April. Meanwhile, winter rains had disrupted the current drought cycle and replenished the soils, resulting in healthy canopy growth. However, May brought unseasonably cold temperatures to the mountain, along with strong winds that caused severe shatter. Consequently, yields were down as much as 50 percent from normal. At last, warmth returned in June, allowing the small crop to ripen beautifully and on schedule by early September. The resulting fruit was distinguished by intense flavors and finely integrated tannins. The 2015 Patrimony is ultimately a wine of depth, immensity and elegance, and promises tremendous staying power for the next decade and beyond. VITICULTURE & VINIFICATION PATRIMONY is rooted in the unrivaled terroir of DAOU Mountain. The phenolics produced on this mountain are known to be among the highest in the world, fostering an immensity of color, depth and structure. In order to extract the purest and most elevated expression of this terroir, purposeful omission is required. For this reason, only select vineyard rows are chosen for PATRIMONY cultivation. By the time the fruit is aggressively thinned, optically sorted, and used only for its free-run juice, a minimal percentage of the total potential yield actually meets the exacting standard we set for PATRIMONY. Fermentation proceeds exclusively with wild yeasts cultured from DAOU Mountain, imbuing the wine with native texture and character. BARRIQUES The PATRIMONY aging program is built around the most coveted barrels that are accessible only through personal relationships with top cooperages. These barrels are: (1) Taransaud T5 barrels coopered from five-year seasoned staves cut from centuries-old Tronçais forest trees; (2) The Serie Vieux Morat Sylvain collection barrels made from this 39 metre tall sessile oak is approximately 350 years old. It has a diameter of 1.30 metres and a total volume of 19 m3. It is located in plot no. 233 of the famous Colbert stand, the historic heart of the Tronçais fores; and (3) a proprietary DAOU barrel created from rare, super fine-grain pink oak, or bois rosé, that is also seasoned in the elements for five years. This proprietary barrel is custom toasted with a low flame to avoid char and ultimately accentuate the wine with extraordinary length. Collectively, these barrels provide for seamless oak integration and staggering complexity over a maturation period of 30 months, all without encroaching upon the pure qualities of our DAOU Mountain fruit. The result is a most pure expression of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape—abundantly layered, extravagant in depth, and intricately poised to the end. PATRIMONYESTATE.COM
2777 HIDDEN MOUNTAIN ROAD
PASO ROBLES, CALIFORNIA 93446
A California first-growth Cabernet Sauvignon without peer, fulfilling the Adelaida District’s destiny as the world’s next benchmark for Bordeaux varieties. TASTING NOTES
A tour de force, the Patrimony 2015 is a deep purple-back wine that delivers the full experience from beginning to end. On the nose, it profoundly exhibits floral characteristics with earthy flavors. On the palate, it is tremendously concentrated while displaying notes of black fruit preserves, licorice, spice box and cigar box. Additional notes of crème de cassis and chocolate accompany this full-bodied wine with a firm tannin structure that deliver a very long finish. While muscular, it is elegant and balanced delivering a great deal of pleasure. Built for the long run, it should be laid down for several years before consumed.
Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon 100% Alcohol: 14.7% Cooperages: Taransaud T5, Sylvain Collection, DAOU Proprietary Barrel
Élevage: 30 months Harvest Date: August 30, 2015 Clones: 337, 412 Rootstock: 420A Cases Produced: 235 PATRIMONYESTATE.COM
2777 HIDDEN MOUNTAIN ROAD
PASO ROBLES, CALIFORNIA 93446
The new frontier for world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. Adelaida District, Paso Robles
805.226.5460
DAOUVINEYARDS.COM