2017 Soul of a Lion Estate

Wine Details
Producer

DAOU

Place of Origin

United States

Adelaida District, Paso Robles

Central Coast

Color

Red

Grape/Blend

80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petit Verdot

Reviews & Tasting Notes

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Drinking Window

2026 - 2036

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Daniel Daou’s Bordeaux-variety-centric wines are among California’s most successful expressions of those grapes not just in Paso Robles, but in the New World. As I’ve mentioned before, no expense has been spared by the Daou family in their pursuit to show that this region deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Napa when it comes to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. To my mind, they are succeeding, heartily. The 2018s, as well as the late-release 2017s (including the jaw-dropping Patrimony bottlings) here are still extremely young, if highly promising. By all means give them plenty of air if you can’t fight the temptation to open them now or over the next couple of years.

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This stunning mountaintop winery in the Adelaida district made a huge splash when it opened its doors in 2010, initially for the lavishness of its architecture, which was unknown in the area at the time and reminded many people more of Napa than of Paso Robles. That was quickly followed by the sheer quality of the winemaking, overseen by Daniel Daou, who started and continues to run the project with his brother, Georges and now Daniel’s daughter, Lizzy. This year’s releases are true to the Daou style, with opulent, highly expressive fruit, polished oak treatment and discreet tannins. Like all of the Daou wines, they will be deceptively approachable when young, but they unquestionably possess the depth, underlying structure and balance to age gracefully. The Napa comparison can be extended to the wines here as well as the setting, but the muscle of Paso fruit is an integral component and, especially, the value that they offer by comparison, even if most of them are far from cheap. Still, considering the buying power of a dollar in Napa these days, it’s hard to deny that, relatively speaking, it goes quite far here.