Discovering Darioush Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
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By Virginia Billeaud Anderson
n the last issue, I shared my discovery at Spec’s Wines of a Pinot Noir from Burgundy. The wine had a smooth, full-bodied taste and was surprisingly inexpensive. Readers learned about the winery, the location and age of the vines, and some fun history about winemaking in Burgundy. Hearing the article boosted sales of the Pinot made me want to share another discovery. This time I’m coming at you with a Napa Valley Cab.
My friend John is a formidable host. While hanging out in his kitchen one night, he yanked from his stash a bottle of Darioush Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and said, “A friend turned me on to it. It’s a big ass wine with fruit forward, you don’t have to wait for it.” When the Cab hit my throat, I experienced a moment of utter happiness, like the night I heard Sinatra at Caesars, or climbed a mountain in Crete and saw the sea above North Africa. I located the big ass wine in the Montrose neighborhood HEB, locked in a cabinet with double padlocks. Labeled “Highly Rated,” HEB sells the Darioush Cab’s 2018 vintage for $135.67. While assisting me, HEB’s wine guy Rich had an ex-
Darioush winery Napa Valley vineyards 26 | HEIGHTS | March + April 2022
