The Daou Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 is part of the Discovery series of wine from Daou Vineyards of Paso Robles California. Daou is one of the finest wineries in Paso Robles known for their Bordeaux-inspired wines and they are Cabernet Sauvignon specialists.
The Daou Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 is made by the same winemaker as their much more expensive wines but is made in a drink-it-now style not meant to be aged. The grapes were picked at the optimal point of ripeness to reduce the tannins.
The softer tannins allow this bottling to come together quickly. Daou’s top-end wines will need several years of aging before they can balance and be available for release. This is a wine I found for $17.99 (Binny’s), Daou’s other wines can reach as high as $150+.
Top wine review magazines have given the Daou Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 93 and 92 points. So while this Cabernet Sauvignon may not be produced exactly like Daou’s other wines it still packs a punch.
The Daou Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 has small amounts of Merlot and Petit Verdot in the blend and was aged for 10 months in 60% new French oak barrels. I don’t think the grapes, at least not all of the grapes came from Daou’s Estate vineyards. But well-chosen grapes from contracted independent vineyards can be of excellent quality.
We at CWF often write about store brands or negociant wines as a way to find bargains, but entry-level wines (if you can call this entry-level) from top wineries often drink well above their price range. While they might not sell for ten dollars they bring some of the best qualities of high-end wine at an excellent price. The alcohol content is 14.5%.
The Daou Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 Tasting Notes
The color is seriously dark and opaque purple. The nose is expansive, the aromas jump out of the glass, and some wines are shy, but not this one. There are notes of ripe blackberry, Cuban cigar, spice, dark chocolate, tart cranberry, a hint of vanilla, and brown sugar. The Daou Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 is smooth on the palate with balanced long-lasting flavors.
This Cabernet Sauvignon tastes like rich, intense blackberry, black licorice, mocha, black pepper, a brush of herbs, a slap of exotic spice, and milk chocolate. The mid-palate offers strawberry, another shock of spice, blueberry, and creme brullé. This Cabernet Sauvignon has balanced appealing flavors to spare.
The Summary
- The Daou Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 is an extremely tasty, full-featured Cabernet Sauvignon. For the price, you are getting the whole package.
- A steady hand made this wine, it has great balance and the tannins and the acidity are seamlessly integrated into the wine.
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