2022 Daou Rose Paso Robles
Made from Grenache grapes in the classic Provençale style, the 2022 Rosé of Grenache presents a pale flamingo-apricot hue and a fragrant, floral nose. Aromas of freshly sliced peaches, hibiscus and hyacinth reveal accents of nectarine and orange zest. Hints of honeysuckle, orange blossom, crushed rose petal and pineapple round out the enticing bouquet. The palate is exceptionally clean and refreshing, with flavors of peach, mango, apricot, and honeydew melon accompanied by notes of lemon chiffon, apricot, papaya and kiwi. A long, luxuriant finish lingers with juicy essences of peach, strawberry and cherry.
Up on the highest vineyard in Paso Robles, brothers Georges and Daniel Daou have raised the bar for Bordeaux-style wines in central California. The brothers, engineers by trade, were raised in Paris and Cannes before immigrating to the US in their 20s. By their early 30s, they had sold a successful computer networking company, and Daniel promptly retired from tech and threw himself headfirst into learning winemaking. Between 2007 and 2012 the brothers purchased 212 hillside acres on the west side of Paso Robles. Legendary consulting winemaker “Maestro” André Tchelistcheff originally consulted on the first Cabernet vineyards here in the 1960s, and described the Daou’s hill as “A jewel of ecological elements,” referring to the site’s high altitude (2,200 feet, which is where Napa’s famous Howell Mountain tops out), limestone soils (a true rarity in the US), and cool climate, which allows the wines to attain full ripeness and deep colors without having to be acidified. Cab lovers, this is a winery to watch. Here we have unique terroir, fanatically scientific winemakers who use only free-run juice, and reality pricing, not vanity pricing. These three wines would make up a great mixed case to sock away and savor. We concur with this sentiment: “These are easily the greatest Bordeaux blends I’ve tasted from Paso Robles.” – The Wine Advocate.