by Andrew Chalk
From the winery...
"This September, Winemaker Daniel Daou will deliver the most anticipated Cabernet Sauvignon of the year with the nationwide release of 2018 Soul of a Lion, the crown jewel of DAOU Family Estates named in honor of his father.
Soul of a Lion has established Paso Robles as a rising star for world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. True to its reputation as DAOU’s most coveted wine, the 2018 vintage is nothing short of a tour de force. Guided by winemaker Daniel Daou’s vision to produce Bordeaux-style wines that combine elegance, freshness, and power -- the 2018 vintage displays all the hallmarks of its cooler growing season, revealing both the power and finesse of its DAOU Mountain provenance."
WINEMAKER TASTING NOTES (Cabernet Sauvignon 75%, Cabernet Franc 15%, Petit Verdot 10%)
2018 Soul of a Lion aged 22 months in 100% new French oak. 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. – Winemaker Daniel Daou
2018 VINTAGE NOTES (DAOU Mountain, Adelaida Hills, Paso Robles AVA)
The 2018 vintage may go down in history as the longest season yet. A good amount of rain fell on DAOU Mountain which gave to a later bud break in April. The vines were energized by the much-needed moisture, setting one of our best crops yet. The weather remained steady from spring through June when we received a long heat wave that fortunately did not affect the quality of the grapes as it occurred before the start of veraison. A cooling trend ensued for the rest of the season right after the heatwave prolonging the hanging time and the harvest to October. The result was our latest harvest ever on the mountain, reaching all the way into the third week of October. The long hang time yielded deep color and concentration with dense wines. The tannins are silky and beautifully integrated. 2018 was an exceptional vintage that gave way to powerful and balanced wines. – Winemaker Daniel Daou
Sample