DAOU Vineyards

Vintners tasting dinners begin at 7:00 p.m., sharp. Doors open for registration and hors d'oeuvres reception at 6:30 p.m.

     Thursday January 20, 2022

Reservations Closed

Course	Pairing / Description	Wine
Hors D’oeuvres	Coconut Chicken Tenderloin with Orange Mustard Sauce Pear and Brie Tartlet Inspired by the renowned rosé wines of Provence, France, our 2020 DAOU Discovery Collection Rosé remains faithful to its origins. This wine is remarkably fragrant, offering generous aromas of fresh peach, Bartlett pear and nectarine, with subtle notes of hyacinth, apricot and crushed rose petals. The palate is delightfully silky, underlying a clean, fresh crispness delivering enticing flavors of mango, Crenshaw melon, lemon chiffon and tangerine. Secondary layers reveal hints of sweet cherry and vanilla with orange peel accents. A luxurious and lasting finish leaves traces of apple pie, strawberry, and kiwi. The wine is a blend of Grenache Noir 95% and Sauvignon Blanc 5%. Wine Enthusiast 91 points	DAOU Discovery Rosé 2020
Salad Course	Watermelon and Cantaloupe Salad, Radish and Micro Mache with Lemon Vinaigrette This gorgeous Chardonnay displays straw with shimmering gold highlights. The wine coats the glass when swirled and rolls about the bowl with a silky, satin texture. The nose bears tropical notes with a full profile of ripe ruby red grapefruit, white peach, and a dash of apricot. The French oak stands dutifully in the background allowing the fruit to elevate to perfection. On the palate there is a distinct richness that makes the fruit and oak balance become even more evident. The lush qualities of this wine envision many excellent pairings with a variety of cuisines. This Chardonnay can be enjoyed now but will have a long and gracious life in the bottle. James Suckling 94 points	DAOU Reserve Chardonnay 2019
Lamb Course	Roasted Leg of Lamb Roulade, Stuffed with Sun Dried Tomato and Feta Cheese, Confit Fingerling Potatoes and Red Wine Demi-Glace The classically styled 2019 DAOU Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon showcases Paso Robles as a world-class region for Bordeaux-style wines. It opens with a highly perfumed nose of black cherry, mulberry, plum and Oregon blackberry, all underlain by notes of cassis, kirsch, licorice, and crushed gravel. Secondary aromas of dark chocolate, coffee and dried sage reveal an elegant complexity. On the palate, it is powerful, balanced and brimming with layers of fruit and spice. Tempting flavors of Zante currant, boysenberry and black plum anticipate accents of cigar box, mocha, crushed herbs and pencil shavings. Firm, fine-grained tannins provide ample structure to support a lengthy finish of sweet cherry, leather, toasty oak and vanilla crème brûlée. In the end, the 2019 vintage is nothing short of an immensely approachable wine that will age with grace and refinement. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate 94 points	DAOU Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Beef Course	Slow Braised Ossobuco Roasted Carrots and Crispy Spinach served with Braising Jus The 2018 Bodyguard is a sleek yet powerful blend of Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah, displaying both opulence and structure. The 2018 vintage presents fragrant fruit aromas of blackberry, raspberry, currant and crème de cassis. Notes of cocoa, coffee, dark chocolate, licorice, and sweet cherry pipe tobacco are rounded out with whispers of truffle, toffee, mocha, and menthol. A juicy, fleshy palate offers bright, generous flavors of cherry, cranberry, strawberry, and blueberry tinged with black raspberry and tamarind—all supported by underlying accents of dusty leather, pencil shavings, cigar box, and crushed herbs. An elegantly styled and beautifully structured finish reverberates with focused energy, vibrant berry fruit and ripe, polished tannins. Wine Enthusiast 94 points	DAOU Bodyguard Red 2018
Dessert Course	Dark Chocolate Cake and Berries The 2019 Pessimist is everything you have come to expect from this beloved red blend. Intense aromas of blueberry, black raspberry and currant are complemented by hints of cherry, rhubarb and plum. Trailing scents of mushroom and allspice are followed by suggestions of chocolate, toffee, and vanilla. The palate is bright and vibrant, revealing flavors of cherry, cranberry, plum, raspberry and pomegranate. A silky texture unfolds with layers of complexity, accentuating the rich fruit with a gentle spiciness and subtle earthiness. Powerful and harmonious, this wine delivers a heady sensory experience all the way through a long finish of blueberry and black cherry. The wine is a blend of Petite Sirah 73%, Zinfandel 14%, Syrah 12%, and Grenache 1%. Jeb Dunnuck 92 points	DAOU Pessimist 2019
Chip Wine	Soul of a Lion is the crown jewel of DAOU, and an emblem of our quest to produce unsurpassed Cabernet Sauvignon from the terroir of DAOU Mountain. The 2018 Soul of a Lion is the kind of awe-inspiring, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon that Georges and Daniel envisioned when they first began researching the terroir of DAOU Mountain. This wine displays all the hallmarks of its cooler growing season—richness, elegance and balance. A dark, purple-black hue foreshadows the experience to come. Intense aromas of lilac, violet and spice swirl amid a deep, complex bouquet. The palate bursts with prodigious flavors of blueberry, boysenberry, plum, vanilla bean and chocolate-covered cherry, all underlain by striking minerality. Silky, integrated tannins unwind into an impossibly long finish, revealing both the power and finesse of its DAOU Mountain provenance. Cabernet Sauvignon 75%, Cabernet Franc 15%, Petit Verdot 10%. 97+ Points, Robert Parkers Wine Advocate; 96 Points Wine Enthusiast; 96+ points Jeb Dunnuck.	Daou "Soul of a Lion" Cabernet Sauvignon 2018