OUR CALLING To make California “first growth” wine from DAOU Mountain, fulfilling the Adelaida District’s destiny as the world’s next benchmark for Bordeaux varieties.
JOURNEY Georges and Daniel both dreamed of a winemaking life long before they came to the United States. It was an aspiration rooted in their agrarian heritage in Lebanon and inspired by their father’s love of fine wine while growing up in France. Driven by the promise of a land where intellect, hard work and passion amount to success, the Daou brothers immigrated to the United States. Industrious and determined to succeed, the two brothers started their own networking technology company and ten years later found themselves at the top of their industry. Ready to return to their roots, it was now time for their winemaking dream to prevail.
TERROIR “We have challenged ourselves to produce Cabernet Sauvignon 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.”
- DANIEL DAOU, PROPRIETOR & WINEMAKER
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 are at angles reaching 60 degrees, 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 emulates Bordeaux’s Right Bank and a climate that closely identifies with St. Helena’s.
WINEMAKING Winemaker Daniel Daou is relentless in his pursuit of fruit purity, implementing an array of proprietary techniques and technologies to create one of the world’s most innovative winemaking programs. All fruit from DAOU Mountain is hand picked, then sorted by cutting-edge optical technology. The wines are made from 100 percent free-run juice that is fermented with native yeasts cultivated from the estate. Each fermentation is customized in accordance with intensive phenolic analysis, ultimately ensuring an exquisite mouthfeel in each wine. With these and other proprietary techniques, Daniel is able to make ageworthy wines that consistently exhibit depth, balance and first growth elegance.
ACCOLADES Over 200 wines rated 90+ points by the most renowned wine critics in the world ESTATE SOUL OF A LION
95-97 points Robert Parker, 2016 94-96 points Jeb Dunnuck, 2015 93 points Wine Spectator, 2014 96 points Robert Parker, 2013 95 points Wine Enthusiast, 2012 96 points Robert Parker, 2010
RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON
91-93 points Jeb Dunnuck, 2016 91 points Robert Parker, 2015 94 points Wine Enthusiast, 2014 92+ points Robert Parker, 2013 91+ points Robert Parker, 2012 93 points Wine Enthusiast, 2011 92 points Wine Enthusiast, 2010
DAOU CABERNET SAUVIGNON
RESERVE CHARDONNAY
DAOU CHARDONNAY
91 points Jeb Dunnuck, 2016 93 points Wine Spectator, 2015 90 points Robert Parker, 2014 92 points Robert Parker, 2013 90 points Robert Parker, 2012 91 points Wine Spectator, 2011 91 points Tanzer, 2010 92 points Wine Enthusiast, 2015 91 points Wine Enthusiast, 2013 93 points Tasting Panel, 2012 91 points Wong, 2014 94 points Wong, 2011 90 points Tanzer, 2010
CHARDONNAY 2016
THE WINEMAKER’S NOTES | Enticing aromas of pear, lemon curd, passion fruit and banana are enhanced by citrus zest, white peach and Casaba melon. Fragrant floral scents of honeysuckle and hibiscus are complemented graciously with a hint of nutmeg and almond accents. Gloriously soft, silky texture up front, beautifully balanced by crisp, fresh acidity resulting in a full, round plushness on the palate. Flavors of mango, lemon merengue and nectarine mingle with suggestions of pineapple, vanilla, and hazelnut. The wine finishes clean and vibrant, leaving lingering tropical essences and citrus notes, with pear and Honeydew melon highlights.
BARREL AGING | 7 months in neutral French oak ALCOHOL | 14.2%
DAOU Mountain is situated just 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean and offers panoramic “above the clouds� views of the Adelaida District. Here, the high elevation and persistent marine breezes create a moderating effect that is ideal for growing exquisitely balanced Chardonnay. The result is a wine that combines Burgundian style with California flair, offering bright, racy acidity with rich, lush flavors.
Winemaker Daniel Daou had a vision for a Chablis-style wine from Paso Robles, inspiring him to create our Reserve Chardonnay. This wine comes from our estate and other unique vineyards that provide marine-driven microclimates for producing authentic Chardonnay. In the spirit of Chablis, Daniel leaves the Reserve Chardonnay unfiltered to create a pure balance of fruit, acidity and toasty French oak.
RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2016
THE WINEMAKER’S NOTES | Fragrant and floral, with enticing aromas of lemon zest, vanilla cream, peach and buttered toast. Nice notes of cinnamon and ginger with a hint of Asian pear round out this lovely nose. Fat, creamy and luscious on the palate, delivering fabulous flavors of lemon cream pie, green apple, hazelnut and casaba melon, with accents of nutmeg, honeysuckle and almond. Delightfully silky on the finish, ending with toffee, tropical essences and citrusy crispness.
BARREL AGING | 11 months in 50% new French oak ALCOHOL | 14.7%
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016
THE WINEMAKER’S NOTES | Blackberry, cassis, plum and currant aromas greet the nose, surrounded by black olives, anise, leather and cigar box. Notes of graphite and crushed stone mingle with just a hint of cool mint. Robust and full bodied, an undercurrent of restrained power is palpable just below the surface at the core of this wine. Firm, fine grained tannins provide ample backbone for the layers of boysenberry, black cherry, licorice and dried herb flavors. Meaty and fleshy while retaining an overall elegance, it finishes with authority and finesse.
ACCOLADES | Consistently rated 90+ points every vintage BARREL AGING | 10 months in 60% new French oak ALCOHOL | 13.9%
DAOU Cabernet Sauvignon is perennially hailed as a wine of remarkable value. In fact, the preceding 2015 vintage was awarded 93 points by both Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast—and the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is its equal. This wine is both powerful and accessible, making it a perfect introduction to Paso Robles as a world-class region for Cabernet Sauvignon.
Each year, Winemaker Daniel Daou meticulously tastes through each of our Cabernet Sauvignon lots. This is the architect at work as he aims to build a bold, harmonious and age-worthy wine from our estate and select Paso Robles vineyards. The chosen lots are then blended to create our Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon—a wine that appeals to collectors and everyday enthusiasts alike.
RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015
THE WINEMAKER’S NOTES | A rich and compelling nose of black currant, ripe Bing cherries and smoky, toasty oak is redolent of warm cherry pie and blackberry cobbler. Behind the very forward dark fruits lie notes of black olive, licorice, crème de menthe, crushed stone and just a hint of ground espresso bean. On the palate is a veritable explosion of fresh fruit flavors, plump, voluptuous and pure. Blackberry, plum and cherry, and even nuances of pomegranate and cranberry. A steely, dusty minerality underlies this solid fruit core, latent power obscured by an oh-so silky texture. A firm handshake in a velvet glove. An amazing finish that replays the currant and black cherry layers interspersed with herbs and sandalwood that just won’t let go. It is in this finish where the power and purity of this wine is proven.
ACCOLADES | 91 points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate; 91+ points, Jeb Dunnuck; 93 points, Vinous BARREL AGING | 20 months in 50% new French oak ALCOHOL | 14.5%
ESTATE SOUL OF A LION 2014
THE WINEMAKER’S NOTES | The 2014 DAOU Estate Soul of a Lion shows beautiful depth of color. This inky purple wine is loaded with aromas of plums, crème de cassis, garrigue and exotic flowers. On the palate, the wine is layered with velvety tannins and shows a unique elegance while being accompanied by extreme intensity and power. Nuanced vanilla bean, toasted spice, graphite, licorice and lead pencil shaving like aromas round out the spectrum flavors. Insanely concentrated, it has a gorgeous harmonious length that extends into a seamless finish which lingers on the senses. Armed with a great tannin structure, it will certainly benefit from laying down for several years.
ACCOLADES | 93 points, Wine Spectator; 97 points, Jeb Dunnuck; 95 points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate COMPOSITION | 83 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot BARREL AGING | 22 months in 100% new French oak ALCOHOL | 14.7%
Joseph Daou was the father of winery founders Georges Daou and Daniel Daou. He lived a remarkable life, and through it all he exhibited the strength and courage of a lion. Before he passed away, he visited DAOU Mountain. While overlooking the new vineyard, he listened his sons’ winemaking dream and gave them his blessing. Soul of A Lion is a testament to that moment. It is a wine of power, complexity and imagination, and a fitting tribute to the man and the father.
“Our promise is to be the two best shepherds you have ever met, in both wine and fellowship.”
— GEORGES J. DAOU, Proprietor
— DANIEL J. DAOU, Winemaker / Proprietor
CONTACT To inquire about securing an allocation and other partnership opportunities, please contact DAOU Sales: Email | sales@daouvineyards.com Phone | US 707-815-8004 To experience the majestic 2,200 ft views of DAOU Mountain, please contact DAOU Hospitality: Email | visit@daouvineyards.com Phone | US 805-226-5460 Website | www.daouvineyards.com
ADELAIDA DISTRICT
PASO ROBLES
CALIFORNIA
UNITED STATES