Daou Vineyards Daou Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 375ml

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a barrel sample of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon maturing for 21 months in 100% new French oak and is due to be bottled in June of 2024. It features baked plum and cassis aromas with nuances of lavender and graham cracker. The full-bodied palate is bright and floral with graphite-laced flavors, gently chewy tannins and impressive new oak integration for this early stage. It's shaping up to be approachable and easy to drink.

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is impossible to ignore. Violet pastille and sweet spice complement a burst of crushed blackberries and cherries. Silken and seamless, it swirls across the palate with an energetic mix of ripe wild berries and citrus, all motivated by a core of vibrant acidity. While gently tannic, the 2022 remains fresh and lively throughout, leaving a tart blackberry tinge that carries on.

It's amazing that the Daou brothers can produce a formidable Cab that is this accessible at such a young age. The palate combines rich blackberry sauce with espresso bean and cocoa, as lingering, sappy tannins extend through the finish.