Daou Vineyards and Winery, Paso Robles (Central Coast, California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

 Cabernets like this made serious collectors take notice of Paso Robles and established Daou’s reputation.  For its 2021 Reserve, the winery blended 23% Petit Verdot and aged the wine in French oak, (50% new) for 18 months.   It is extremely dark in color and bursting with ripe blackberry, cassis fruit along with scents of tobacco leaf and a touch of cloves.  Big bodied with a concentrated, fleshy texture, it has velvety tannins and ends on a well-integrated oak finale.  It has polish and complexity, and should age well.