Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon under 14% alcohol? I looked twice — it’s true, and it’s great to see. This crowd pleaser brings rich ripe fruit and baking spices to bear on the nose, and is pure Paso on the palate — juicy blackberry, currants, graham cracker, plum, very faint dried herbs, with a long fruit forward finish that shows restrained use of oak. Try throwing this into a blind tasting of Napa cult wines and see what happens. Contains 8.5% Merlot, 7.5% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot.
Daou Vineyards, Paso Robles (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
By Rich Cook