Daou Cabernet Sauvignon Soul of a Lion Paso Robles 2023

DAOU is one of California’s greatest – but rather than the predictable Napa or Sonoma address, this highly rated, historically ambitious producer hails from Paso Robles. Their brooding, heralded “Soul of a Lion” 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon earned a hearty 99 points from Tasting Panel – and ordering two bottles saves you over $60, plus free shipping!

DAOU calls their “Soul of a Lion” Cab their crown jewel – a lavish and velvety and endlessly generous Cali-Cab that easily competes with (and outpaces) many of the California greats. A polished blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot makes for a robust and powerful sipping experience, softened by ethereally smooth tannins, subtle earthy accents, and the most refined kiss of oak-spice sweetness.

Brothers Georges and Daniel Daou purchased the property that would become DAOU in 2007 after building and selling their own healthcare IT company. The idea with DAOU was to produce some of the best Bordeaux-style wines in the world, and the brothers searched the globe for the perfect spot to do so before landing here. Thanks to the property’s steep slopes, rare calcareous-clay soils, and ideal climate – they were able to quickly realize that vision, eventually selling the winery to Treasury Estates in a record-shattering one billion dollar deal in 2023. As they say, the proof is in the pudding, and this pudding is piping hot!

DAOU is forever a First Bottle favorite (staff and customers alike) – and they’ve continued slinging heavy-hitting winners since those early days, now with enormous global fanfare backing them. This 2023 “Heart of a Lion” Cab is not for the faint of heart, with inky, deep, brooding notes of blackberry, black cherry, violets, espresso, and all-spice barrelling from the glass full-speed, caressed by hints of salted dark chocolate, potpourri, and pencil lead. There’s a reason this iconic winery was valued at a BILLION dollars (probably more now!) – and it’s all the more enticing to get some of their juice at our killer two-bottle price drop.

FOOD PAIRINGS: Summer-fy your short ribs with this recipe for blackberry-braised short ribs with whipped ricotta and roasted golden beets for a pairing with this Cab worth a billion bucks.