B-21 Top Recommendation
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Described by Jeb Dunnuck as competing "with the best of Napa" at a fraction of the price, these top scoring Paso Robles reds from DAOU represent some of the portfolio's top values, from the rich and satisfying 92 pt. 2022 Pessimist Red Blend to the bright and silky 91 pt. 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon and stellar, age worthy 95 pt. 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, all impeccably crafted to over deliver value at a bargain price.
Perched at the highest point overlooking Paso Robles at the same altitude of Napa's Howell Mountain, the spectacular DAOU Vineyards was founded by Georges and Daniel Daou over a decade ago, the brothers becoming known for pioneering Paso Robles as a top region for growing Bordeaux varietals and steadily building a reputation for "a massive lineup of stellar wines" according to Jeb Dunnuck.
Composed of 59% Petite Sirah, 20% Zinfandel, 14% Syrah and 7% Lagrein aged for 10 months in 60% new French oak, the plush 92 pt. 2022 Pessimist is "an easy drinking blend" according to the Wine Advocate's Erin Brooks, offering fresh aromatic ripe dark fruit hinting of peppery spice with a soft texture and impressive, lengthy finish. A blend of 77.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15.6% Petit Verdot, 6.5% Merlot and 0.4% Cabernet Franc aged for 8 months in 50% new French oak, the richly aromatic 91 pt. 2022 Daou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is "a formidable Cab" according to critic Matt Kettmann already drinking beautifully and earning a spot on the Wine Enthusiast Top 100 of 2023, a harmonious blend of silky dark fruit balanced by bright acidity described as "impossible to ignore" by the Wine Advocate's Erin Brooks. Produced in a hot and dry Paso vintage yielding smaller clusters and greater concentration, the refined 95 pt. 2022 Daou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon blended with 23% Petit Verdot and aged for 18 months in 50% new French oak, yielding intensely aromatic ripe dark fruit hinting of graphite, cedar and earthy spice with smooth, balanced tannins on a long, velvety finish "with an underlying elegance that suggests it will age for years to come" according to James Suckling.
A range of "gorgeous wines that continue to show what's possible with Bordeaux varieties from Paso Robles" according to the Wine Advocate's William Kelley, these top scoring 2022 Daou reds are "profoundly colorful and powerful wines with an intense core of tannins and masses of rich fruit that nearly mask their hulking structures" according to Eric Guido of Vinous, reflecting the Daou legacy for delivering exceptional quality and tremendous value at a price that doesn't break the bank. | 
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