The greatness of Daou Mountain was foretold many decades ago when renowned winemaking authority Andre Tchelistcheff hailed it as "...a jewel of ecological elements." The calcareous clay soil here is comparable to Bordeaux's Right Bank, while the buffered Pacific microclimate is similar to Saint Helena-- a perfect confluence of elements. DAOU Mountain is blessed with extraordinary phenolic output, yielding some of the darkest, most deeply textured wines in the world. The Daou brothers are committed to multifaceted sustainable practices that have earned their vineyard SIP (Sustainability in Practice) certification.
Named for the father of Georges and Daniel Daou, Soul of a Lion is the crown jewel of DAOU, and an emblem of their quest to produce unsurpassed Cabernet Sauvignon from the terroir of this special Mountain. Each bottle of Soul of a Lion represents a nine-year journey of passionate curation. This journey begins with rare bois rosé French oak barrels whose staves are seasoned in the elements for five years prior to coopering. The wine is then aged for nearly two years in these proprietary Daou 5-year barrels, then held for extended bottle maturation prior to allocation - ensuring that each vintage has achieved perfection upon release.
ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 96 POINTS - "The 2020 Soul of a Lion Estate is a deep, dark, nearly impenetrable ruby color. It has a beguiling bouquet that blends spicy dried flowers, cardamon and red currants. Sweet smoke hints add lift. This flows like pure silk without a single edge in sight. Guided by juicy acidity, textural waves of wild berry fruits soothe the palate. For all of its power and depth, the 2020 finishes remarkably fresh. It’s tannic, yet they are sweet and perfectly formed in a harmonious concentration that tugs at the senses yet never tires them out. The cellaring potential here is off the charts."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 95 POINTS - "The 2020 Soul Of A Lion, made from free-run juice, is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot matured for 22 months in 100% new French oak. It has a deep ruby color and pure aromas of blackcurrants, tobacco, truffle and thyme with touches of leather and graphite. The full-bodied palate has a pleasantly rustic texture and savory character, finishing with tobacco accents. Drink it over the next 3-5 years."
JEB DUNNUCK 94-96 POINTS - "The 2020 Soul Of A Lion is tighter and more backward than the 2019 (which was also tight and focused at this stage as well), offering lots of ripe black fruits, new leather, mineral, and iron nuances to go with a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, structured style on the palate. It's unquestionably a beautiful, outstanding wine."
Named for the father of Georges and Daniel Daou, Soul of a Lion is the crown jewel of DAOU, and an emblem of their quest to produce unsurpassed Cabernet Sauvignon from the terroir of this special Mountain. Each bottle of Soul of a Lion represents a nine-year journey of passionate curation. This journey begins with rare bois rosé French oak barrels whose staves are seasoned in the elements for five years prior to coopering. The wine is then aged for nearly two years in these proprietary Daou 5-year barrels, then held for extended bottle maturation prior to allocation - ensuring that each vintage has achieved perfection upon release.
ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 96 POINTS - "The 2020 Soul of a Lion Estate is a deep, dark, nearly impenetrable ruby color. It has a beguiling bouquet that blends spicy dried flowers, cardamon and red currants. Sweet smoke hints add lift. This flows like pure silk without a single edge in sight. Guided by juicy acidity, textural waves of wild berry fruits soothe the palate. For all of its power and depth, the 2020 finishes remarkably fresh. It’s tannic, yet they are sweet and perfectly formed in a harmonious concentration that tugs at the senses yet never tires them out. The cellaring potential here is off the charts."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 95 POINTS - "The 2020 Soul Of A Lion, made from free-run juice, is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot matured for 22 months in 100% new French oak. It has a deep ruby color and pure aromas of blackcurrants, tobacco, truffle and thyme with touches of leather and graphite. The full-bodied palate has a pleasantly rustic texture and savory character, finishing with tobacco accents. Drink it over the next 3-5 years."
JEB DUNNUCK 94-96 POINTS - "The 2020 Soul Of A Lion is tighter and more backward than the 2019 (which was also tight and focused at this stage as well), offering lots of ripe black fruits, new leather, mineral, and iron nuances to go with a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, structured style on the palate. It's unquestionably a beautiful, outstanding wine."
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