WINEMAKER'S NOTES:
Deep garnet in color, this wine presents alluring aromas of red currant, cherry preserve, plum, fresh tobacco leaf and star anise with undercurrents of lavender, sagebrush and mineral. The palate is extravagantly layered with deep flavors of cherry, blueberry, baking spice, smoked meat and salted dark chocolate. An impeccable mouthfeel displays balanced tannins, fine acidity and perfectly integrated oak, all leading to an enduring and triumphant finish.
TASTING NOTES:
The 2021 is a barrel sample of Cabernet Sauvignon maturing for 30 months in 100% new French oak. It unfolds slowly on the nose to reveal redcurrants, cherry preserves, fresh tobacco leaves, aniseed, sagebrush and lavender. The full-bodied palate has a core of perfumed berry fruit structured by generous, powdery tannins and energetic acidity, and it finishes with alluring floral nuances.
Barrel Sample: 94-96
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 pts.
Dark-fruited and toasted aromas of wild blackberries, tobacco, seaweed and orange zest. The palate is full-bodied with finely integrated tannins and bright acidity. It shows notes of bramble berries, leather, graphite and roast meat. Wonderfully balanced and fresh. Drink or hold.
- James Suckling, 96 pts.
A bouquet of rum-soaked cherries and roses is complicated by hints of tobacco, sweet spice and vanilla bean as the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Patrimony comes to life in the glass. It’s elegant and silky, with an almost molten chocolate mouthfeel. Oak-inflected crushed wild berries and cherries ride a core of vibrant acidity. A web of sweet tannins remains through the lightly structured yet long finale. A pleasantly bitter tinge of blackberries and mocha resonates. While wonderfully balanced and enjoyable, the 2021 simply lacks the impactful wow factor of past vintages. That said, no fan of DAOU will want to miss it.
- Vinous, 95 pts.
