The Season
2010 growing season in California was a difficult one, and Paso Robles was no different.  The season for the most part was cool with 2 spurts of heat wave, which lead to delay in fruit ripening.  

However, unlike other regions in California, Paso Robles was more fortunate than others, with the Santa Lucia mountain hugging Paso Robles, it blocked some of the rain that season and left Paso Robles with cool yet sunny coastal climate.

The Vineyard
DAOU Mountain’s special characteristics make it one of the most unique vineyard locations in California. The Santa Lucia Mountain range in the Paso Robles AVA is highly regarded for its unique vine cultivation qualities. Here, the combination of southeast and southwest orientation, 2,200 foot elevation, steep slopes (ranging from 15% to 45%), cooler microclimate, marine influence from the renowned Templeton Gap and ideal calcareous soils create the perfect conditions to grow exceptionally high quality fruit. For most of the summer, DAOU Mountain’s vineyards stand above the frequent morning fog line, allowing them all-day access to the nourishing sunshine.

The Process
All the grapes are hand-picked and hand-sorted at DAOU. It takes about one hour to hand-sort one ton of grapes. The standard yield is about 165 gallons per ton – at DAOU the yield per ton is 80 to 100 gallons.

Unlike most wineries, when the wine goes dry (i.e. there is no more sugar), Daniel is not finished making the wine. Instead, he now begins to create the profile and identity of the wine. To do so, difficult steps are taken to macerate the wine on the skins for up to three weeks in order to break down the tannins and create an age-worthy wine with the structure and elegance of first-growth French wines. No pressed wine, which could contain astringent flavors and harsher tannins, is ever blended into the DAOU labeled wines. All the DAOU red wines are made from 100% free run juice.

The Experience
Vivacious purple rim is exposed when the wine is tilted in the glass.  The nose is covered with fresh picked mint and blackberries.  When tasted, the evidence of Syrah is exposed through black pepper notes and cooked blueberries.  The structure is firm tannins with slight hints of acidity in an effort to showcase the powerful fruit aromas.  The long seamless finish includes black currant and dark cherries.

The Facts
Varietal Composition: 59% Syrah, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot
Appellation: Paso Robles, California (Central Coast)
Barrel Aging: 18 months in French oak (50% new)
Alcohol: 14.5%

DAOU is the creation of two brothers, Daniel and Georges Daou, who shares one dream – the dream of producing collectible, world-class Bordeaux style wines to rival the most respected appellations in the world.

The Daou brother’s appreciation for quality wine was nurtured throughout their childhood, in France, where their father enjoyed good wine with every meal.  Daniel and Georges came to appreciate great wine as young adults, and their passion for the fruit of the vine has grown stronger with every passing year.

In 2007, Daniel and Georges’ search for the perfect terroir led them to the west mountain Adelaida area of Paso Robles in California. There, they found land that had been part of the historical Hoffman Mountain Ranch Vineyard; land that fit their very strict criteria. They wanted the kind of terroir that could grow Cabernet Sauvignon and other red varietals to rival those from the world’s best wine appellations. The combination of high elevation, cool marine influence, southeast and southwest sun exposure, and high-concentration calcareous-lime soils was exactly what they were looking for. As an added bonus, the one hundred acre property had over seventy farmable acres, making it one of the larger vineyard sites in the Adelaida region.

The property, now nicknamed DAOU Mountain, has expansive views of the luscious countryside. On a promontory rising above the valleys and canyons of this bucolic landscape now stands a stunning, Spanish Colonial style winery and tasting room. At the heart of the winery hangs a bell, dated 1740, that was recovered from a monastery in Spain. This beloved, beautifully painted iron piece was forged before the founding of the United States.

Wine Spectator - 90 pts
"Tight and attractive, this well-structured red offers a range of dried currant, road tar, crushed rock and mineral flavors. Given its level of intensity, this begs for at least short-term cellaring. Ends with chewy, integrated tannins. Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Best from 2014 through 2023. 1,000 cases made." –JL

Past Vintage
2009 - Wine Spectator: 88 pts

Aging Potential:	Ready to Drink, 5-10 Years
Alcohol By Volume:	14.5%
Appellation:	Paso Robles, California
Barrel Type:	French Oak
Body:	Full
Color:	Red-Purple
Flavor Pairing:	Braise
Food Pairing:	Steak, Duck
On the Nose:	Pepper, Mint, Blueberry, Black Cherry
On the Palate:	Tannins, Mineral, Currant, Blueberry, Black Cherry
Serving Recommendation:	Room Temperature, Let it Breathe
Special Features:	Sustainable Vineyard
Varietal:	Syrah, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon